Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-16
Britain Makes Vassals
Of Our Merchant Marine


ships or shipping which has not been
made on terms dictated by the British
admiralty
This statement was made last even
ing to the International News Serv-
ice by a state department official who
is thoroughly familiar with the Dacia
case now pending and every case of
seizure or detention made up to this
time by British cruisers.
With the object of getting the ex-
tent of the state department view as
to Great Britain's assumed rights and
authorities over American ships, the
following proposition from an author
itative source was submitted to a
very high legal authority in the state
department:
Great Britain's authority over our
ships ends with the right of search.
and when Great Britain, after search
and after failure to find any con-
traband on the ships, undertakes to
convey an American vessel or ves-
sci carrying American cargo into a
British port, she is really proclaiming
by her action sovereignty over the
seas and making vassals of American
vessels"
The state department authority said:
That statement of view is correct.
Our researches show that the legal
opinions on this side of the water sus-
tain that proposition. 1t is true that
the right of search to justify Great
Rritain's view may be found in few
British court decisions, but the major
ity legal view stands for the release
of ships Immediately after proper
search has disclosed no justification
for detention.
Specific cases might be found, as
in the instances of very large ships,
where complete search could not be
made at sea, but such cases we hold
are exceptional and do not contra
vene the general principle as stated
above"
Up to a late hour this afternoon
Solicitor w. Cone Johnson had re-
ceived no answer from Great Brit
ain as to the concessions which was
made in the case of the Dacia. Plain
understanding between the state de-
partment and Great Britain is that
even if the Dacia "be allowed by Great
Britain" to sail to Rotterdam instead
of to Bremen, Great Britain does not
admit this to be test case or that
it will settle in any way the contro-
versy between the United States and
the English government.
The Dacia is an American ship
loaded with American cotton sailing
under the American flag by the au-
thority of the United States depart
ment of commerce and, as pointed out
by the International News Service
yesterday, cannot make a trip to Eu-
rope except on terms which will be
dictated to the state department by
Great Britain.
The British embassy announced an
other concession today to this gov
ernment, as follows:
"While they cannot give a pledge
that all ships now in prize courts will
be released on bail being offered, the
decision must rest with the Judge
His majesty's government, in order
to relieve shortage of tonnage, is
anxious to withdraw ships as little
as possible from the carrying trade
and will therefore not oppose release
on bail of ships now in prize courts if
bail be offered.
"Only seven neutral vessels are at
present in prize courts and five ships
are detained in the United Kingdom
in addition at this moment for ex
animation as to character and to des
of their cargo; one of these
will probably be released almost i'm
and no one of them is under
the American flag"
This statement means that Great
Britain has not receded from the prin-
ciples and laws under which vessels
have been taken into the prize courts,
but will release such ships as she
thinks should be released on bail, or
on such other terms as may be re-
garded sufficient by British policy.
Plymouth, Jan. 16.-The American
steamer Pathfinder, with cargo of
cotton, was ordered into Plymouth to-
day by a British warship, but after
a few formalities of inspection had
been undergone the ship was immedi
ately released. The Pathfinder was
bound for Bremen.