The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-11
ENGLAND WILL SETTLE.
WIN Return and- Pay For ssiEsd
Flour.


New York, January i0--The answer
Of Lord salisbury. 30 ths. demand made
on him By Ambassador Choate for dec
Ian alton OF policy and q concession Of
liability In the matter of tire seizures
Of American flour In carEoss on ths Ma
soma and the Marie. says Washington
despatch 10 the journal and Advertiser,
may he summarized thus:
"6reat Britain offers to pay an indem-
nifty to ths American citizens whose corn.
meal and flour were ssissd by the British
cruisers near Delagca Bay, the extent
OF the claims to be determined BY con-
mission. treat Britain will not declare
corn, meal and -four to be oontraband
when proof is not-positive that the food
stuffs were Intended for the camp Of the
enemy. Great Britain contends that she
hes not violated the rights Of neutral
power BY the seizure Of this corn, meal
and flour, but that on the contrary under
her old oommo, law she has right TO
seize food supplies absolutely necessary
for the maintenanoe Of her soldiers and
sailors In time Of war. her right being
subjsct to the equities Of indsnnity."
The despatch also says that the above
abstract of the portion OF the British
government has been received BY the
state department. and In the basis Of the
statement that the matter had been
amioably adjusted. The attitude OF this
government and on the three proposi-
tions submitted In justification by Lord
Salisbury IL as follows;
The United States sccspts Great Brit
aims offer to pay the American citizens
In interest the face value Of the cargo
and with reasonable profit.
Great Britain's plea Is inadequate and
evasive In that 1t avoids general decla-
ration as to whether corn. meal and
flour are oontrsband Of war. but the
answer 10 reasonably sufficient because
1t declares specifically that the articles
on the vessels named were not contra-
band Of war NJ they were not destined for
the camp Of the enemy and that WAS
one important contention Of the state
department..
As to the third proposition, the United
States accepts in good faith the plea
necessity for the supply of ths British
army and navy and that such ne oessity
justiflsd tho act Of the seizure without
prejudios to any other International
question involved.
NOT RECEIVED AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, January 10 up to the
close of office hours the answer of the
British government to Mr.. Choats's rep
presentations as to the seizure Of Ameri-
can -four ana other goods, had not been
received at the State Department. nor
had Mr.. Choats indicated when an
answer might be received. The state
fact that 1t Is still the ambassadors
request collecting and Transmitting TO
him information relative to the oharac-
ter of the goods needed for the full pre-
ssntation of the case. scarcely expects an
immediate answer.
SENATOR hALE'S RESOLUTION.
Washington. January fo.-Senator Hale
OF Maine, today offered the following
resolution relating to the alleged seizure
Of American -four by the British govern
ment:
'Whereas, property Of citizens Of the
United States not contraband Of war.
has been lately ssized by the military au-
thorities OF Great ritain and near De-
iagoa Bay, South Africa, without good
reasons for same and contrary to the &C.
csptsd principles Of international laws
and,
"Whereas, said property is now unjust
~ detained by the military authorities
OF Great Britain In disregard Of the
rights Of the owners Of the same. there
fore, be 1t
"Resolyed by the Senate Of the United
States that the Secretary of States Is
hereby requested to send to the Senate all
Information In possession Of the State
Department relating to said seizure and
detention; and also to inform the Senate
what steps have been taken In request
ing the restoration Of property taken
and detained as aforesaid, and whether
OF not the department has informed the
proper British authorities that II said
detention is persisted In, such act will
be considered without warrant and often
sivs to the government and principle of
the United States.
THE GOVERNMENTS DECISION.