The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-08-04
THE ATTITUDE
OF AMERICA
Russia Must Not Seize
Food StuffS.
PRECEDENTS LOOKED UP
The United States Sure of
Its Course.
st. Petersburx Government Must Modi-
fly Its Position Or Trouble VIII
Occur over the Seizure of
ships'a Cargoes.

Department is in Geographic commu-
nication with its agencies abroad re-
specting the Russian seizures and de-
structfon of American goods. but 1t
Is not yet ready to define precisely it's
position as to the whole subject of
seizures. These exchanges are not con-
fined to st. Petersburg and Washing
ton, but are intended to develop the
purposes of the governments of other
nations and particularly Of Great Bril-
tain and Germany. whose shipping has
suffered more than that of any other.
The loss of a part of a cargo is In
point Of international law issue of
less magnitude than the destruction
of ship, and so far the British and
Germans, have lost Their ships and the
Americans only the cargo.
PrOceeding Liesureiy.
This fact is believed to Justify the
State Department In proceedingly more
leisurely than otherwise would be the
case leaving it to the larger sufferes to
establish their own policies respecting
seizures.
1t is said here that the precedents
already established In the Spanish and
| Boer wars as well as in the operations
in China during the black flag upris-
| ing have worked so satisfactorily and
have received ouch universal approval
that under no circumstances will Amer
| lea now recede from the doctrine that
| food stuffs not directly Intended for the
use of belligerent army or navy can
| not be regarded as a contraband.
Russia Must Recede.
While this contention is directly at
variance with the Russian decree or
the subject, In view OF the fact that IL
| is believed TO be the German position
and is certainly that of the British,
| rtr fc cf 5ss.ff "a
cient support to oblige the Russian
government to abandon it, contention
| and to desist from further seizures
OF American food stuffs consigned not
| only to ChiIa, but even to individuals
in Japan. un.ess 1t can be clearly
shown by .he Russians that the food IL
Desired for the Japanese army, or
raw. Fes Ha
There IS no disposition to make an
issue further OF the Ardova case. Tho
vessel was seized by one of the voiun-
teer Russian cruisers In the Red sea
and sent to Suez where she was re-
| leased and resumed her Journey. She
| had aboard "A quantity Of supplies for
| the Philippine government.
The Right of search.
| The American government Is willing
to concede the right of stopping and
| search to a reasonable degree and has
| But the mails OIL the vessel were ram
| sacked and delayed and while all the
| facts are not at hand, 1t is possible
| that some of these were American
| mails. without further studying the
subject the government here is not
| willing to admit the right of interfer-
| ence to this degree.
| Ambassador Mccormick has cabled
| the State Department from St. Peters,
hYlr hat in, tn
| lative to the seizure of the Hamburg
| American steamer Arabia by the
| Vladivostok squadron with a cargo of
| American goods, which was represent
| ed by the agents to contain no con-
| traband, the Russian Minister for
| Foreign Affairs has said:
In conformity with the rules of con-
| duct published by the imperial govern
ment some time ago, "A detachment of
| Russian war vessels seized on the 22nd
| of July the steamship Arabia. which
was taken to Vladivostok and the case
| of her seizure was laid before the local
court. Upon the decision of this court
| will rest the question as to whether
| the Arabia is to be released or treated
as a prize"
Firms are Notified.
The State Department has telegraph
ed this notice to the several American
Trims Wn1cn nave cO1Hpidlleu Oh the
seizure of their goods on the Arabia
in order that they may. If they care
to do so. appear by counsel before the
| prize court 1t is expected that Mr.
Greener, the American consul at
Vladivostok, also will watch the pro-
| ceedings.
A prize court is not regarded here as
| a strictly judicial tribunal and there is
ample precedent for requesting a re-
vision of it's work and Judgment in
| case tho latter is unsatisfactory and
| believed to have been Irregular.
There have been no further repre-
| sensations to the State Department
! Respecting the American cargo sunk in
| the Knight Commander, and 1t is be-
| lieved that some difficulty is being ex-
perienced by the agents in establishing
| the American ownership of the goods
| destroyed. owing to the peculiar system
of consignment prevailing in Asiatic
|