The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-30
.ENGLAND'S RIGHT
OF SEARCH AT SEA
Admittedly us.
Free Play to Ascertain if
Cargoes Are Intended for
Nations Enemies.
FUTURE ACTION BASED
ON THIS CONCLUSION
Attitude Develops as Outcome of
Orders Issued by Secre-
tary McAdoo.
MANIFEsTs TO BE KEPT SECRET
Great Britain Expected to Increase
Force OF Cruisers OF
New York.
Ispecial to rhe rinea-pispatch.


WASHINGTON. October 29.--The un-
restricted right TO hold up and search
American shipping vessels during the
war was announced by the British en-
bassy here to-day
The State Department. through Act
ing Secretary of State Lansing. an
nounced that the government would
acquiesce in Great Britains stand.
This came after conference OF Mr..
Lansing with President Wilson.
In assuming its attitude. the United
States rcverses the grim position II
maintained In 1912. when u went to
war with Great Britain ever the Brit
ish governments persistent hoId-up of
American vessels.
England demands the right TO search
American ships for contraband OF war.
II takes the attitude that the search OF
suspicion. is justified. 1t maintains
that it ought 20 have free play to as
certain IT cargoes on American ships
oil which the American flag is flying.
are going to nations IT war With
Britain.
To al of this the United states
agrees. Its ships. the government says,
may be halted anywhere and over
hauled by the British.
All this developed to-day as the out
come of orders issued last night by
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo. pro.
thirt* days Of mnnifests of vessels
| leaving amy American port. q
ORDER Is NO SURPRISE
TO EITHER GOVERNMENT
Mr. Lansing and the British am
bassador. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, say
that the order of Mr. McAdoo really has
been In effect for about three weeks.
and that II was not. therefore. sur
prise TO either government.
One in1norfaut result Of tbt.
Withholding OF manifests II is ex-
pectcd will be that Great Britain Will
now largely increase her force OF
cruisers. which are virtually hlockad-
ing New York shipments.
After the conference to-day the Brit
ish ambassador said:
The United States government has.
OF course, 4 perfect right to Issue what
regulations 1t thinks Mt. and foreign
powcis have no reason to complain. In
New York this regulation has been in
force for some time.
The publication of manifests is not
Il usual practice. and depends solely
on local custom In different countries.
Nothing In the regulation prevents the
consuls OF neutral countries from COM
municating to consuls OF belligerents.
as is now done, details as to the desti-
nation OF contraband or the intention
of the neutral government cargoes"
Mr.. Lansing said that he was cog
infant as to the order issued by Mr..
McAdoo. and understood that it was put
in force at the. request OF New York
shippers themselves.
THIS GOVERNMENT
WILL NOT OPPOSE
MIR. Lansing said further:
The right to search all vessels on
the high seas will not be opposed by
this government. The right of Great
Britain or any other nation engaged in
war to stop an American ship and cN-
anime her cargo, no matter what its
nature or destination, is recognized by
this government. All future protests
or complaints filed by the United States
will be based on this conclusion"
Henceforth, there will be no chal-
lenge by the United States of any acts
of Great Britain. however arbitrary, in
Selling ships. All seizures or detentions
will be regarded each on Its merits.
One OF the State Department officials
remarked:
Our position is such now that we
can do only three things--talk. arbi-
trate or light
The attitude of this government,
however. he said, puts the question Of
fight-even stiff diplomatic one
aside.
Tie attention of the British ambas
sador Mt to-day's conference, was called
to the growing opinion that Great Brit
aims acts of seizure were bearing very
hard against the United States Sir
Cecil announced that there was no
question OF the right of unlimited
search. and that, as to the hardships
referred to, the commerce of Great
Britain suffered much also from this
government during the war of 1861 60.
Sir Cecil Spring Rice referred to the
capture OF British vessels consigned to
tho Confederates at Nassau. and sus-
pected by the Federal government OF
being intended for the Confederate
States.
I<EENSST ACTIVITY
By BRITISH CRUISERS
Sir Spring Rice did not hesitate to
say that the result of the nonpublica-
ton of the manifests would necessi-
tate the keenest activity in the watch
by British cruisers Of vessels leav-
ing American ports. He went so far
as 10 say that, even IL vessel was
carrying considerable contraband. for
instance, TO Denmark. and the British
government was assured that 1t would
not get into German hands, there might
be other reasons for whiting such yes
sells. For instance, no said, there might
be spies on board.
The ambassador asserted that while
Great Britain insists that She has abso-
Lutte right of search on the high seas.
no vessels would be Seized" but mere
~ detained until the British govern
ment is fully satisfied that there was
no reason Tor further hold-up.