New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-28
SHIPPERS PROTEST..
State Department Prepared to Act
on Seizure of american Goods.

Washington. July 27.-The State Department
has finally received formal protest against the
action Of Russia in Selling American goods and
as the result OF its preliminary study Of the
law and presidents governing the subject. II is
prepared 10 act energeticaIy and promptly. This
profess relates 10 the seizure OF an American
cargo on board the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. steamer
Arabia, bound from Portland ore. for Hong
Kong, China United States Senator J. H
Mitchell, OF Portland. telegrauhed 10 the deuart-
ment statement OF The conditions under which
the Arabia carried cut this cargo. lie said he
represented the Portland Milling COMPANY
which had shipped on the Arabia for Hong
Kong $1,000 sacks " Hour worth about
S1VLOpo. H. declared that this -four was IN no
sense contrabaud. for II was not destined for
Japan, and was part OF the normal trade OF the
company, and not a war order He requested
the State Department 10 take the necessary
steps 70 secure indemnity and satisfaction sor
the owners OF the -four, and also 10 protect legt-
innate neutral trade from such serious interior
ence as these attacks by the VIadlvostok squad
ron. The statement is made that the -four ship
ment is only one OF many made by the Portland
Milling Company TO regular consig nees in the
last two years. and the fact that the Ara bia is
a neutral vessel. carrying the German flag and
engaged IN legitimate business on the high seas
carrying a legitimate cargo from an American
port consigned 10 private parties in the port OF
Hong Kong. 10 private citizens and subjects OF
the Chinese Empire"
Maxwell Evarts and .. A Chambers. two
attorneys. called at the State Department to-day
in connection with the same seizure and Acting
Secretary Adee referred them to the solicitor
OF the department. who also has before him the
protest OF the Portland & Milling Company.
The department officials decline TO say what
course they intend 10 pursue, except for a
declaration that there VIII be no iuconsiderate
action that the whole subject Of interference
with American trade by beIigerents in the war
will be considered. and that each protest that
may be forwarded VIII be part Of d uniform
and consistent policy TO be followed by the de-
partment. So far the department has little in
forma ton as to the circumstances connected
with the seizure OF the Arabia and her cargo
AS the vessel under the German flag it is
presumed that Berlin will be likely to receive
the first official reports. None Of the attorneys
actually known from any Of their principals
that the ship had been seized. and the basis for
that belief rests so far on newspaper publica
tons
The case OF the Knight Commander a neutral
ship laden with neutral goods, and sunk by the
Vladivostok squadron, which is regarded
particularly strong one against the Russian gov
eminent. has not yet been made the subject OF
a formal protest, although discussed between
officials and attorneys. and that case therefore,
Will not accompany the Arabia case II the latter
is be presented at once TO the attention Of the
Russian government. Undoubtedly however,
the dictum OF Hall. an English authority which
unquaIihedly bars the sinking of neutral ship,
Will be adopted here as II is in England. the
only sound principle to follow In the Knight
Commander case
Portland Ore July 2T.-Speaking of the pro-
test sent by him TO the State Department on be-
half Of the Portland Milling Company Senator
Mitchell said to-day that he had made the pro-
test a vigorous one because Of the Importance
OF the questions involved He mas requested the
department TO advise him Of the conclusions
reached in it's negotiations with the Russian
government and OF the action taken by this
government Senator Mitchell has been advised
that similar protests viii be made by New-York
attorneys on behalf Of the German owners OF