The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-01-10
Evadcs q Direct Declaration of
Policy Regarding Contra
band of War.
WILL INDEMNIFY AMERICANS.
Seized FOodStuffS as a Military
NecesSity-American and Ger
man Ambassadors Coufcr
in London.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

! REPC BT.fC SPECIAL.
! Washington, Jan. G-These are the essen
! tiaI points in the tentative answer Of Lord
| Salisbury to the demand made on him by
| Ambassador Choate for a declaration Of
| policy and concession OF liability in the
| matter cf seizures Of American fiorr in car
goes on the Mashona, the Beatrice and
the Maria:
First-Great Britain offers 10 pay an in
demHiJy 10 the American citizens whose
corn. meal and -four wcr- seized by the
British cruisers near Delacoa Bay. the cx-
| tent of the claims to be determined by
commission
Second-Cireat Britain will not declare
corn. meal and -four 10 be cortrahand
when proof is not positive that the food
stuffs are intended for the camp Of the
enemy.
Third-Great britain contends that she
has not violated the right of neutral
Power by the seizure OF this corn. meal
and -four but that. on the contrary. under
her old common law, she has a right "a
seize food supplies absolutely necessary or
the maintenance Of her soldiers and sailors
In time Of war, her right being subject to
the equities of Indemnity.
This abstract of the position Of the Brit
ism Government has been Received by She
State Department. The attitude Of this
Government on the thrco propositions sub
mitted In justification by Lord Salisbury Is
as follows:
The United States accept Great Britain's
offer 10 pay the American citizens in in
terest the face value Of the cargoes. with
a reasonable profit
Great Britains plea IN justification is TO-
garled as inadequate and eyasive in that
it avoids general declaration as to wheth-
er corn, meal and -four are contraband OF
war. hut the answer Is reasonably sufficient
because II declares specifically that the
articles on the vessels named were not con-
trabdnd Of war. as they were not destined
for the camp Of the enemy and that
one important contention of the State De
partment.
As to the third proposition. the United
States accept IN good faith tho plea that
the goods were seized military neces-
siy for the supply of the British army and
navy, and that such necessity justified the
act Of seizure without prejudice to any
other international questions involved.
4 high State Department official said to-
night that there was no doubt Great
Britains inability TO supply her army and
navy actually engaged In the Bocr war
could be demonstrated. That condition. he
said, Is fairly infcIabie from the fact of
the immense army in the field, the cOnSs-
queat emergency drain on the home base Of
supplies. the distance of the local South
African bases Of supply from the armies in
the field. the danger In the transportation
OF them great distances inland and the
practically Isolated position of her cruisers
off DelaCOa Bay beyond the international
limit from shore.
The United States. he said, had agreed TO
this contention Of Great Bri;ain's because
1t was defensbe by International law, by
British local law and by the facts as sub
mittei.
The State Department. Notwithstanding
this tentative reply. which precIudes any
chance OF serious friction. Is still anxious
to obtain a specific declaration as to
whether Grea: BritaIn will maintain the
general proposition that our corn and meal
are Contraband of war IL Is pToba BILE In
view Of the present amicstbIc adjustment
that the United States will not insist on an
immediate reply to her demand for "A conf
prehcusive declaration Of policy.
Il * thought. however. that. inasnuch
as Germany. Holland and France have
asked Great Britain for a definition Of con-
traband rs applied Ia foodstuffs. the scope
Of the answer 10 the United States may
be enlarged in the near future.
SIGNIFICANT CONFERENCE.
London. Jan. a-There Is some reason to
believe that The United States and German
embassies are trying 10 find a common ha-
sis on which they can cooperate In pressing
their respective demands against Great
Britain for the De!aEoa Bay seizures 4
high official Of the German Embassy had
a long conference TO-DAY AT the American
Embassy. and the diplomats are believed to
have discussed tho steps each country al
ready has taken and the best future pro-
.euoTe.
At tho same tine. there Is every iniicd-
tion that Great Britain is showing the most
friendly consideration TO the representa-
tiors Of both she Ambassadors and that
the present difficulties will he settled am
icably.
As set forth In these dispatches It IS
expected that the American flour will
speedily he released. while the release Of
the German steamer General is believed ~
prelude the liberation Of the Herzog. The
status of the Buudesrath Is not yet fully
settled. hut GeTmauy'S representatives be
iieve that Great Britain will give satisfac-
ton for any delay occasioned to a legitl-
mate cargo.
Roth the United States and German en-
haSsics are now anxious to obtain a British
declaration in regard IN the treatment Of
neutral ships hereafter and. II Is believed.
they exchanged views on tbs. subject
NOT ACTING WITH GERMAN.
Washington. Jan. st Is stated here on
authority that the United States Govern