The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-30
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 on
New York. M
Especial TO The Times dispatch. ]

Especial to The Times Dispa tch.1
WASHINGTON. October 2e.-.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 Britain's stand
This came after n conference OF Mr..
Lansing with President Wilson.
In assuming its attitude, the United
states rcverses the grim position II
maintained In 1912. when II went to
war with Great Britain over the Brit
isli governments persistent hold up OF
American vessels.
England demands the right 10 search
American ships for contraband OF war
II takes the attitude that the search OF
any vessel, on the merest shadow of
suspicion. is justified. 1t maintaine
that II ought 20 have free play to as
certain IL cargoes on American ships
on which the American flag Is dying.
are going to nntions at war with
Britain.
To all of this the United States
agrees. Its ships. the government says,
may be halted anywhere and over
hauled ny the British.
All this developed to-day as the out
come of orders issued last night by
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo, pro
hibiting the publication until after
thirty days of mnnifests of vessels
leaving any American, port. e.
ORDER IS NO SURPRISE
TO EITHER GOVERNMENT
Mr.. Lansing snG the British am
bassador. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, say
that the order Of Mr.. McAdoo realiy Ia.
been in enec, for about three weeks,
and that II was not, therefore. sur
prise TO either government.
One very important result OF this
Withholding OF manifests It is ex.
pected 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. perfect right to Issue what
regulations 1t thinks lit, and foreign
powers 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
municattng TO consuls OF belligeren;s.
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 1t was put
in force at the request of New York
shippers themselves.
THIS GOVERNMENT
WILL NOT OPPOSE
Mr. 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 eX-
anime her cargo, no matter what it's
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
seizing 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 fight"
The attitude of this government,
however. he said, puts the question of
fght-even n stiff diplomatic one
aside.
The attention of the British ambas-
sador ut 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, MS to the hardshlps
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
the Confederates at Nassau and sus-
pected by the Federal government Of
being intended for the Confederate
States.
xEENEsT ACTIVITY
DY BRITISH CRUISERS
Sir Spring Rice did not hesitate to
say that the result of the nonpublicn-
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 II would
not get into German hands, there might
he other reasons for visiting such yes
sels. For instance, he said, there might
be spies on board
The Ambassador asserted that while
Great britain insists that she has abso-
lutte right OF search on tho high seas,
nc vessels would be Seized" but mere
ly detained" until the British govern
ment is fully satisfied that there was
no reason Ior further hold-up.
T.