The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-30
Cargo Secrecy Order May
Cause More Ship Seizures
Action of the United States Government to Keep Shipments
Secret for Thirty Days After Sailings Meets
With No British Protest.
NEW REGULATION REQUESTED BY SHIPPERS

WARRINGTON, oct. 2a.-The order Of the
Treasury Department that information re-
garding cargoes and destinations Of out
ward going ships clearing from United
States ports shall not be given to the pub
lie until thirty days after the vessels sail.
will not be questioned by the British Gov
eminent.
A statement was made here to-day by
Sir Cecil Spring-ltice. the British Am
bassador, In which the right OF the United
States to make such regulation was fully
recognized
Likewise. Acting Secretary Lansing, for
the State Department. conceded fully the
right OF the British to hold up ON the high
seas any or all vessels clearing from
United states ports for examination OF
their manifests and clearance papers so
as to satisfy themselves as TO the neu-
trality of destination and cargo. Both
officials were Of the opinion that the order
will probably result In the stoppage OF
more vessels on the seas.
The order was issued. It was learned.
largely at the wish OF exporters. Amerl-
can shippers feared that seizure OF car
goes was made more likely by the fact
that British officials in this country had
access TO the manifests OF outward going
vessels.
They also represented TO Administration
officials that they did not care to have
spread broadcast In business circles the
information as to exactly what cdrgocs
they were shipping, and where they Were
sending them. II was also held at the
state Department that the entire burden
OF protecting it's rights and exercising its
privileges as belllgerent should be placed
on the British Government
The United States Government has Of
course a perfect right to issue regulations
IL thipks md foraigu Powers have no
reason to complain. In New York this
regulation has been in force for some time
The publication of manfests is not
usual practice and depends solely
upon local custom in different coun-
tries. Nothing In the regulations pre-
vents the Consuls of neutral countries
from communicating to Consuls Of
belligcrents a, Ii now done. details as
to destination Of contraband or the
Intention Of the neutral Government IN
regard to cmbargoes.
The last sentence OF the Ambassador $
statement refers to an arrangement which
the British Government Is rapidly effect
ing with the Governments OF the neutral
states adjacent to Germany and Austrian
The British Government is seeking to have
the neutral Governments serve as the con
signocs for all shipments OF articles OF
contraband. absolute or conditional, TO
those countries.
This ARRANGEMENT Is desired by the
British as being more likely to prevent
the reexportation of such articles from
the neutral countries into Germany or
Austria. for the whole responsibility for
the ultimate destination Of such articles
is thus placed upon the neutral Govern
ments themselves.
Under this arrangement the British pro-
pose that Consuls OF neutral countric, in
the United States. for example, shall
notify the British Consuls that certain
shipments Of contraband arc going for
ward IN such and such a ship. consigned
to the Government which he may repre-
sent.
This Information would then he placed
In the hands OF the British authorities
and would be satisfactory evidence as to
tn, right OF the vessc, to proceed when
confronted by the British patrols IN Eu-
ropcan waters.
Naturally tho consenee or his repre-