St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-01-24
sNGLAxu's REPLY As TO SEIZURES.
Answer Satisfactory as Far as II Goes, but
leaves Main Question Untouched.


n A telegram has been received at
b Washington from Ambassador Choate
q reporting an interview he had with the
= Marquis of Salisbury in regard to the
, American shipments Of flour and Pro-
visions on the detained British steamers
Beatrice and Mashona, and the Dutch
steamer Maria. The British position
as to food stuffs and hostile destination
is that they can only be considered con-
traband of war If supplied the enemy's
forces, it not being sufficient that they
are capable of being so used. but it must
be shown that this was their destination
at the time of seizure. This qualifca-
ton virtually comedies the American
contention that the goods were not sub
ject to seizure, and practically dsavows
the seizure. it not being claimed there
is any evidence of hostile destination.
| Just as the officials of the state de- |
partment expected, 1t amounted to a
partial answer very satisfactory as far
as 1t goes disposing of the character Of
some of the goods seized but not finally
deciding broadly whether or not food
stuffs are to be regarded as contraband.
In brief, Mr.. Choate reports as fol-
lows: That the answer is highly salts
factory; that it Is broad and liberal in
terms. The position assumed by the
British government is that foodstuffs in
transit to a hostile destination can be
regarded as contraband of war only
when they are supplies for the enemys
forces.
1t Is not sufficient that they are capa-
Bile of being used for the benefit of the
enemy; 1t must be shown that they are
so In fact through their destination at +
the time of the seizure. The British gov
eminent does not claim that any of the h
American goods on the German bark b
Maria and the British bark Mashona
were contraband of war II
The British government is investigat- r
Ing the facts in connection with the r
goods seized on the third vessel, Beatrice "
Mr.. Choate's message embodied sue ~
,inctly the authorities relied upon by g.
he British government to sustain Its 81
position. 1t was nearly noon before it pl
ould be deciPhered and placed In Secre- &C
airy Hays hands. 1t SO happened that
.ord Pauncefote, the British ambassa- pt
or, was with the secretary shortly after Sc
e received his message, and probably D.
ne subject was discussed by them. VI
1t is certain that both the secretary al
nd Lord Pauncefote appeared to be "
ratified at the progress made toward a
attlement of the cases. Nothing was III
aid directly in Mr. Choate's message W
'uching release of the seized goods, 81
ut of course fair inference from the al
atement that the goods on two of the
essels had been found to be not CONTRA w,
and is that they either will be or have 26
cen already released. 18
If any question arises as to compensa-
on to the owners on account of these
'izures. that can be adjusted later on.
Is probable, however, that the British Blu
overnment will not wait for any hint
1t will voluntarily make such amends 7
seem to be fair 49,
1t Is believed that the uncertainty as ~,
the character of the Beatrices cargo ~,
based upon an imperfect knowledge of M.
e ownership of the goods. r