The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-19
WON'T LET her GO
British Government Refuses to
Allow Dacia to Proceed.
Says Transfer to American
Registry Was Not Genuine.

Washington, Jan. 19.-The British
government will not consent to allow
the steamer Dacia, recently transferred
from German to American registry, to
proceed to Rotterdam, under safe con-
duct with her cargo Of cotton. the state
department was notified today from
London.
The British reply to suggestions for a
safe conduct, recently made by the
state department, came through the
American embassy at London. While
the text of the message was withheld,
1t is known the British objection was
based broadly on a reluctance to create
a precedent which it is felt would be
followed by many similar purchases of
German ships and efforts to operate
them on the former German trade
routes. The British note does not un-
dertake to assert the right Of Great
Britain to interfere with ships pur-
chased and transferred to the American
flag in a legitimate way. The objection
to the transfer of the Dacia, according
to the British view, is that it was not
genuine. it being intimated the Brit
ish government believes the American
purchaser really was acting for Ger
man principals
The Dacia's cotton cargo admittedly
is not subject to seizure and the Brit
ish note leaves it to be inferred that
if the owners of the cotton do not make
other arrangements for it's shipment
to Germany and the Dacia puts to sea,
the cotton either will be unloaded in an
English port and placed at the disposal
or the owners to forward to Germany
by another and neutral ship, or appro-
priated by the British government on
payment to the owners Of it's invoice
value.
| The state department already has in
formed Mr.. Brietun of Marquette,
Mich, the owner of the ship, of the re-
fusal of the British government to
promise not to seize the Dacia on this
particular trip AS he has stated to
the department that the freight charges
on the cotton with which the Dacia is
ioaded would about equal the purchase
price of the vessel. it is assumed that
ne VIII take the chance of making the
voyage and if the ship is seized will go
before British prize court. State de-
partment officials are of the opinion
mat such court would liberate the
Dacsa II the British government is con-
| tent.
Will Defy John Bull.
Galveston. Jan. 19.-The steamer
Dacfa, carrying 1000 bales of cotton
Is expected to sail for Germany, tomor-
row, regardless of British objections
70 the steamers purchase from its
German owners by Americans. Local
interests identified with the cargo lei
this be known today. The British
] consul is supervising the loading OF
the steamer. Loading of the steamer
was suspended ten days ago when re-
ports of the British objection first
reached here. Sunday, the loading
was resumed and today more than g..
600 bales were on board. The cargo
will be completed tomorrow and the
steamer is expected to get away.
Tom B. Erwin of Fort Worth, is the
shipper. His local representative de.
clared today that Erwin was not wor.
rying about confiscation by England
and that, If the ship was seized he be-
lfeved the cargo would be paid for al
its invoice value.
Galveston capital is heavily inter
ested in several other transfers from
German and Austrian to American
registry.