New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-22
U. S. DEMANDS OIL
SHIPS RELEASE
President Acts in Case of
the Rockefeller, Held
by Britain.
[ from The Tribune BUREAU.

Washington, Oct. 21.-President Will
sons determination to protect vessels
flying the American flag was empha-
sized to-day, when q demand was made
upon the British government for the
immediate release of the American tank
steamer John ID. Rockefeller, which was
seized by a British warship and taken
to the Orkney Islands, where she is
held as a prize of war.
Similar action, IL is believed, will be
taken with respect 20 the tank steamer
Brindilla, which was seized by the Brit
ish auxiliary cruiser Caronia and taken
TO Halifax, where she is now held pend
ing the outcome Of possible prize court
proceedings. Until the State Depart
ment has full report from the Ameri.
can Consul at Halifax and the views OF
the British Foreign Office, however, no
formal protest will be made.
Adding TO the acuteness OF the issue
is the fact of official reports that
British warships are on the lookout for
other vessels flying the American flag
which are suspected Of having supplies
for Germany, although they cleared for
neutral ports.
John d. Rockefeller was cabled i'm
/
State Lansing had conferred with the
President at the White House. 1t is
! the opinion of the administration that
the seizure of this tank vessel was
wholly unwarranted, as no question of
! transfer of registry was involved and
she had cleared from Philadelphia on
September for Copenhagen with a
cargo of illuminating oil.
praeidapt Wilson has takon the l.
/ ton that American vessels should be
given every protection possible and
shippers should have assurances that so
long as they keep within the bounds OF
/ international law their shipments will
not be molested. He believes that con-
/ slant seizures will menace the effort7
/ OF the administration and American
commercial interests in promoting
! legitimate trade abroad.
The understanding at the British
Embassy is that illuminating oil has
been regularly declared contraband by
the British government, but that the
notice has not yet reached other pow
ers. Therein the case resembles the
Communicating of the copper-lader
ship, which was taken into a British
port in advance of notice to maritime
nations that copper had been declared
conditional contraband. In that case
the United States did not abandon it:
contention that neutral goods in neu
| trail bottoms passing between neutral
ports were exempt from seizure.
sharp issue was avoided, however
through an understanding reached be
tween the British and Dutch govern
ments that the Dutch embargo would
extend TO copper.
1t is suggested that a similar ar
rangement will be sought by the Brit
ish government regarding petroleum
and it's products, not only with Holland
but with Denmark and Sweden and Nor
way.
A cable received By the Standard Oil
| Company of New Jersey yesterday
stated that the American tank steamer
Platuris, formerly the tanker Dia-
/ mant, recently transferred from the
German TO the American flag at New
York, had been captured and taken
into Stornoway, Scotland, by British
warships as prize of war. The Pla-
turia sailed from this port on October
5 for Aarhus, Denmark, with cargo
Of Illuminating oil.
David r. Warden, manager Of the
| foreign shipping department of the
Standard Oil Company, said that pro
test had been forwarded 70 the au
/ thorities in Washington regarding the
seizure of the Platuria, with request
that representations be made to the
| British government looking toward g
release of the vessel and her cargo
Mr.. Warden stated that the case of the
/ Platura is identical with that of the
Brindilla, except as to destination.
Mr. Warden confirmed the report:
| that the latter was purchased by the
| Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
/ from its German subsidiary, the
Deutsche -Amerikanischich Petroleum
( Geselschaft.
In view of the activity of British
cruisers which are patrolling the At