The Portland daily press., 1900-01-12
NOT PAYING ANY BILLS.
GREAT BRITAIN'S REPLY.
It Is That American Goods Seized Were
Not Contraband.

Washington, January 1.-THE answer
of the British government to Mir. Choate's
representations respecting the seizures OF
American flour and other goods on the
three vessels. Beatrice. Mashona and
Maria, has been received.
The reply amounted to = partial
answer, very satisfactory as far as 10 goes,
disposing Of the character Of some q the
goods ssized, but finally deciding broadly
whether or not food ssuifs are to 10 re-
garded az oontraband. The British gov.
srnment adopts precisely the point Of
view regarding the seized goods that
was assumed by the state department.
and embodied by Mr.. Choats In the note
on the subject addressed to the British
foreign oiiioe. In brief, Mr.. Choats re-
ports as follows:
That the answer is highly satisfactory; ;
that 1t is broad and liberal in terms. The
position assumed by the British govern
meht Is that food stuffs In transit to a
hostile destination can be regarded as
contra band of war. only when they are
supplies for the enemy's forces. 1t Is not
sufficient that they are capable Of being
used for the benefit of the enemy; II
must be shown that they are 30 In fact
through their destination at the time Of
the seizure. The British government
does not claim that any OF the American
goods on this German bark Maria and
the British bark Msshons were contra.
band of war. The British government Is
investigating the facts In regard TO the
goods saizsd on the third vessel, the
Beatrice. Mr.. Chosts's message en- bod
led succinctly the authorities relied upon
by tn, British government TO sustain
its position. IL so happened that Lord
with the secretary shortly after he re-
ceiyed his message. Both the secretary
and Lord Pauncsfote appeared to be
gratitied at the progress made toward u
settlement of the cases.
Nothing was said directly In Mr..
Choate's original message, Nor In sup
Elementary message which came later,
explain iatory Of the preceding message,
touching release OF the seized goods. but
of course a fair inference from the
statement that the goods on two of the
vessels had been found to be not contra.
band, is that they either will be, or have
been already released. 1t Is probable that
the British government will voluntarily
make such amends as seem to be fair.
Later In the day the following official
statement was given out by the state
department:
A telegram has been received from Am
bassador Choate reporting an interview
han by him with the Marquis of Sails
bury on the aftsrnoon of the 10th Inst In
regard to the American shipments OF
flour and provisions on the detained
British steamers Beatrice and Mashons
and the Dutch stssmer Maria. The Brit
ish position as to food stuff and hostile
destination is that they eau only be CON-
si1ersd ccntraba nd OF war II supplied t.
thtk ,ne my 's.forcss, 1t not being sufficient
that they are capable Of being 30 used,
but 1T must be shown that this was their
destination at the time of seizure. This
qualification virtually comedies the
American contention that the goods were
not subject to seizure, and practically
disavows the seizure; 1t not being
claimed there is any evidence OF hostile
destination.