The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-12
ANSWER OF SALISBURY
FocdslufIs Are Contraband Only When
Intended for the Enemy.
CARoots 'Of TWO VESSELS ALL RIGHT
rbnt IT the Beatrice Being tnvesti-
antea--Ambassadcr Choatr and
Mr.. Hns Are satisfied.

Washington, January 1.-THE answer OF
the British government to Mr.. Choste's
representations respecting the seizures OF
American -four and other goods on the
three vessels. Madeira, Mashona and Be
atrice. has been received. AS the officials
of the state department expected, IL
amounted to partial answer, very salts
factory as 1t goes, dlsposing OF the charac-
ter OF some OF the goods seized, but not
finally deciding broadly whether or not
foodstuffs are TO be regarded as contra
band. The British government adopts pre-
cisely the point OF view regarding the
department and embodied by MIR. Choate
in his note on the subject addressed to the
British foreign office.
In brief, MIR. Choate reports as follows:
THE answer is highly satisfactory, and
ii is broad and liberal in terms. The posi-
tion assumed by the British government
is that foodstnffs IN transit to a hostile
destination can Be regarded as eontraband
OF war only when they are supplies for
the enemy's forces IL is not sufficient
that they are capable OF being used for the
benefit OF the enemy; 1t must be shown
that they are so in fact, through their
destination al the time Of the seizure. the
British government does not claim that
any OF the American goods on the German
bark Madeira and the British bark Ma
shonA were contraband OF war. The Brit
ish government Is investigating the facts
in connection with the goods seized on tue
third vessel the Beatrice
Mr.. Choates message embodied succinct-
ly the authorities relied upon by the Brit
ish government to sustain it's position
and as this position, AS already stated is
one OF those already assumed by the STATE
department, al course they are regarded
as convincing For this reason Nh
Choaie's message is long, and IL was neat
" noon before Il could be deciphered att
plaSed in Secretary Hays hands II 81
happened TINT Lord Pauncefote, the Brit
ish ambassador. was with the secretary
shortly after he received his message an,
probably the subject was discussed bS
them. II IS certain that both the secretary
and Lord raHncefotc appeared tc be gra A.
fed at the progress being made toward
settlement OF the cases. Nothing was SAID
directly in Mr. Choate original MESSAGE
Aor in supplementary message whcl
came later explanatory Of the preoedinl
message touching d release OF the seize
goods. hui. OF course n fair Inference froI
the statement that the goods on two o
he vessels bad been found to he NOT con
traband that they are or viii be released
II any question arims as to compensa
ticn to the owners OF the goods thes
seizures can be adjusted later on. 1t
probable. however. that the British gov
erDment Will not wait for any turtle
hint but will voluntarily make sue
amends as seem TO be fair.
IL is believed that the uncertainty
to the character OF tho Baatrice's care
Is based upon imperfect knowledge OF IL
ownership OF the goods, The America
consignors, however, evidently 4ppr,
hending that doubt might exist on th
point, have come forth with the peslti,
statement that they have not been "a
for the goods shipped and that the draf
drawn by the consignees in South Afrit
were not eollectibe until the goods We
safely delivered at their destination. NJ
Hopkins, the LEGAL representative here
one of the largest firms concerned In d
ownership OF the goods, was at the sta
department this morning to discuss Il
case OF the officials The next step IS
he the collection OF data by the state d
partment ard by the British foreign Off
70 fully establish the character of Il
goods on the Beatrice. and It Is not e
pected that there viii be meantime. a
further deliveries by the British COVER
ment upon the general subject Of the co
trahaDd character OF the food stuffs
Later IN the day the following offcI
statement was given ont by the state d
partment; - telegram from Ambassad
.'hoate has heen received reporting an
terview had by him with the marquis
Salisbury on the afternoon Of the 10
instant IN regard to the American shi
msnis OF Hour and provisions on the d
tanned British ships Beatrice and Mnsho
and the Dutch steamer Maria. The Br
ish position as 10 food stufis and host
destination is that they can -nIy be %
sidered rontraband OF war II supplies
the enemys forces, It not being mffeis
that they are capable of being SO us
but II must be shown that this was IN
destination at the time OF seizure. n
qualification virtually comedies the Ame
can contention that the goods were
subject to seizure and especially dslvo
the seizure II not being claimed II
there is any evidence OF hostile desti,
ton"
London, January little Standard
an editorial upon the governments rel
to Mr.. Choate and Count Won Bulow. sa,
We shall be much surprised il the Br
ish governments definition OF inter-
tonal law as applied to the carriage
foodstuffs fails to And acceptance
Washington and Berlin