The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-10-26
BRITISH TELL WHY OIL |
TANKERS were HELD Up
SIR CECIL sPa'no-Rlcg SAYS gill
OF LAolNe DID NOT MENTION
ANY SPECIFIC cohsloNEE.

|
has complied with the demands OF the
United States for the immediate re
lease of the Standard Oil steamer John
D. Rockefeller.
! This vessel. bound from New York
to Copenhagen, and laden with oil,
was seized on the Orkney Islands,
north of Scotland.
News that the English government
had Needed the expressed demands of
the United States was telephoned 70
the White House by Sir Cecil Spring,
Rice, British ambassador. The embas-
sador explained that the seizure had
been made because, the bill of ladins
OF the shipment did not mention any
specific consisnee, but was to be deliy.
cred ION order"
The action taken by Great Britain
Is accepted in official circles as pos
sibie precedent to be followed by the
English government in considering the
demands made today for, the release
OF the Standard OIL steamer Brindilla,
now held at Halifax ~
1t was learned this morning that
President Wilson himself had directed
that the State Department should take
every possible step to protect Ameri.
can shipping from the practices being
resorted to by the British navy
Called at the State Department.
This morning the. British ambassa-
dor had long conference. with Acting
Secretary of State Lansing regarding
the seizures, although on leaving the
State Department the ambassador de-
clared that he was without information
regarding the grounds on which the
seizures were made. He indicated,
however, his belief that the action was
taken by the British cruisers because
of the extraordinarily large number
OF shipments of oil to Holland, Den
mark, and Sweden, and the fear of the
British government that these shin
ments were intended for Ultimate use
by the German Zeppelns gathered at
Kiel harbor.
The ambassador took occasion to ex:
press to Mr. Lansing the regrets of
himself and his government over the
refusal of the British authorities to per-
NIT the American consul at Halifax
to interview the captain of the Brin-
della. As soon as the British govern.
ment learned of this it rodered that
the ban be lifted at once.
In filing the demands for the release
OF the Brindella and the John D. Rookie
Teller, the State Department did not
attempt to go into a discussion of the
rights of the United States as neutral
nation to have its flag on American
merchant vessels respected. 1t simply
stated its belief that the seizures were
entirely unjustified" and that this
government requested" the immediate
release of the vessels.
Lack Detailed Information.
The State Department is still with
out detailed information concerning
the grounds upon which the Brindilla
is being held. Unofficial reports reach
ing here this morning, however, were
to the effect that the only ground cited
in the libel was the contention that the
transfer Of the Brindilla to American
registry was not bona fide one.
II this develops to be the real situa-
ton the whole plan Of the Wilson ad-
ministration for the upbuilding of the
merchant marine by the bringing in
lof foreign built ships onder the Ameri.
can nag win be in jeopardy. 49,,