The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-12
DISAv0WS THE SEIZURE
EFFECT OF sALIsBURY's REPLY TO
AMBASSADOR CHoATE.
Foodstuffs VIII Only BE Considered
for an Enemy's Use.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE answer of
the British government to Mr.. -Choate's
representations respecting the seizures of
American flour and other goods on the
three vessels. Beatrice, Mashona and Ma
ria was received to-day. Just as the Of
ficials of the State Department expected
it amounted to a partial answer very sat
isfactory as far as 1t goes. disposing of
the character of some of the goods seized
but not finally deciding broadly whether or
not foodstuffs are to be regarded as con-
traband. The British government adopts
precisely the point of view regarding the
seized goods that was assumed by the State
Department and embodied by Mr.. Choate
in his note on the subject, addressed to
the British Foreign Office
Mr. Choate's message was long and it
was noon before Secretary Hay had de-
ciphered copy of it. This afternoon the
following official statement was given out
by the State Department:
"a telegram has been received from AM
bassador Choate, reporting an interview
had by him with the Marquis of Salisbury
on the afternoon of the 18th inst, in re-
gard to the American shipments of flour
and provisions on the detained British
steamers, Beatrice and Mashona, and the
Dutch steamer Maria. The British posi-
ton to foodstuffs and hostile destina-
ton is that they can only be considered
contraband of war if supplied for the en-
emy's forces, it not being sufficient that
they are capable of being so used, but it
must be shown that this was their destina-
ton at the time of seizure. This qualitica-
xrirtrt oil ha n
tention that the goods were not subject to
seizure and practically disavows the seiz-
ure, it not being claimed that there is any
evidence of hostile destination
1t is said the British government does not
claim that any of the American goods on
the German bark Maria and the British
bark Mashona were contraband of war.
The British government is investigating the
facts in connection with the goods seized on
the third vessel, the Beatrice. 1t is be-
lieved that the uncertainty to the char
acter of the Beatrice's cargo is based on
imperfect knowledge of the ownership of
the goods. The American consigners, how
ever, evidently experimenting that doubt
might exist that point, have come for
ward with the positive statement that they
have not been paid for the goods shipped
and the drafts drawn by the consignees
in South Africa were not collectable until
the goods We're safely delivered at their
destination. Mr.. Hopkins the legal repre-
sentative here of one of the largest firms
concerned in the ownership of the goods,
was at the State Department this morning
to discuss the with the officials.
The next step will be the collection of
data by the State Department and by the
British Foreign Office to fully establish the
character of the goods on the Beatrice and
it is not expected there will, meanwhile, be
any further deliveries by the British gov
erpment on the general subject of the con-
traband character of foedstuffs.
LONDON, Jan. r2.-The Standard, in an
editorial on the governments reply to Mr..
Choate and Count Won Buelow. says: I'VE
shall be much surprised if the British gov
ernment's definition of international law as
applied to the carriage of foodstuffs fails
to find acceptance at Washington and Ber-
lin"
The theory is now advanced that the seiz-
ures of the German mail steamers Herzog
and General, since released, were made on
purposely misleading information supplied
to British agents, the design being to en-
broil Great Britain and Germany in quar-
rel.
III. M. S. Fearless seized the bark Maria
L., which arrived at Port Elizabeth, South
Africa, on Saturday, from the Argentine,
with sulphur.
BERLIN, Jan. lit is asserted that the
German cruisers Schwalbe and Condor,
which were ordered to Delagoa bay, have
been instructed to proceed instead to Cape
Town. This indicates a belief in German
official circles that the contraband contro-
versy will be amicably settled.