Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-28
A FORMAL PROTEST.

The State Department has finally re-
ceived formal protest against the action
of the Russian navy in seizing American
goods. and as the result of its prelimi-
nary study of the law and precedents
governing the subject, it is prepared to
act energetically and promptly. This
protest relates to the seizure of an Amer
lean cargo on board the Hamburg
American line steamer Arabia, bound
from Portland, Ore, for Hongkong,
China. United States Consul j. H.
Mitchell telegraphed the State Depart
ment a statement of the conditions under
which the Arabia carried out this cargo.
Mr.. Mitchell stated that, as counsel,
he represented the Portland Milling
Company, which had shipped on the
Arabia for Hongkong SO, 900 sacks OF
-four, worth about 100000. he de-
clared that this -four was in no sense
contraband, for it was not destined for
Japan, and it was part Of the formal
trade of the company and was not a war
order.
Mr.. Mitchell requested the State De
partment to take the necessary steps to
secure indemnity and satisfaction for the
owners of the -four, and also to protect
| legitimate neutral trade from such serious
interference as these attacks by the Vlad-
ivost)k squadron.
Maxwell Evsrts and d. A. Chambers,
two attorneys, went to the State Depart
ment yesterday in connection with the
same seizure, and acting Secretary Adee
Immediately referred them to the So
licitor for the department, who elso has
before him the protest of the Portland
Milling Company.
The department officials positively de-
cline to say what course they intend to
pursue, save for declaration that there
will be no inconsiderate action that the
whole subject of interference with Amer
lean trade by beligerents in the present
war will be considered, and that each
protest that may be forwarded will be
part of a uniform and consistent policy
to be followed by the department So
far the department has little information
as to the circumstances connected with
the seizure of the Arabia and her cargo.
As the vessel was under a German
flag, it is presumed that Berlin will be
apt to receive the first reports of an off,
cial character.
The case OF the Knight Commander,
neutral ship, laden with neutral goods,
and sunk by the Vladivostok squadron,
which is regarded as a particularly
strong one against the Russian gov
ernment, has not yet been made the
subject of a formal protest, although
discussed between officials and attOr-
neys, and that case, therefore, will not
accompany the Arabia case, ifthe latter
is to be presented at tonce to the attention
OF the Russian government. Undoubted-
ly, however, the dictum of Hall, an Eng
lish authority, which unqualifedly bars
sinking of neutral ship, will be adopted
by the United States, as tits in England,
as the only sound principle to follow in
the Knight Commander case.
Foreign and domestic shippingis prac-
tically at a standstill at Toxic and it is
possible that on account of future uncer-
tainty it will be only partially resumed
when the present raid of the Russian
Vladivostok squadron comes to an end.
The sweeping list of articles declared by
Russia to be contraband of war render
almost every vessel approaching Japan
liable to seizure. American and British
shipping and commercial interests gener-
ally are deeply concerned at the losses
already sustained and the probable future
impairment of trade. They are anxious
also that their respective governments
reach an understanding with Russia con-
cerning contraband of war without loss
of time. The steamer Siberia, belonging
to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
is now held at Kobe Japan, her sailing
having been postponed indefinitely.