Evening star., 1915-01-05

ing Secretary Peters of the Treasury De-
partment conferred yesterday on the for
mutation of a circular urging co-opera-
ton between American exporters. shippers
and the government In regard to the
manifests of neutral ships used to carry
American cargoes.
a long step toward meeting the British
complaint that American ship owners
nave oeen concealing contraband in
otherwise neutral Cargoes was taken when
the collector of customs at Savannah was
instructed to furnish depa rtins vessels
with papers disclosing their exact con
tents similar Instructions are to le
given to collectors at other Atlantic ports
Furt--er Action Forecasted.
The following statement was issued 10y
the State Department forccastins further
action by the Treasury Department in
steps that are expected to relieve A1ncri-
can ships of the hardships of detention
and extended search
The Department of State is advised
that the Treasury Department has au-
thorized the collector of customs at
Savannah to have vessels bound to for
elgn ports loaded under tho supervision
or inspection of the customs officials
upon application in writing bv the owl
crs or agents of. the vessel, or the en-
porters, and to give an appropriate Ger
tih"atc OF cargo as show tho mani
Test. me customs Oitirl;tlS. however.
VIII not attempt to determine certify
whether any part Of the cargo is or is
not contraband Of war.
Doubtless the same authority will bc
extended by the Trea Sury Department to
the customs officials at all our ports
wherever desired. Complaints have been
made that in some Instances the ship s
manifest does not contain all the cargo
aboard, and this action of the Treasury
Department is no doubt in response to
these complaints
British Justification for Search.
Justification for the general search Of
American and other neutral vessels clear
ing from American ports was found by
the British government in the fact that
contraband, such copper, was often
concealed in cotton bales.
IT was also alleged that the ships mani
Test, when produced. did not disclose the
whole of the cargo. which afforded ample
opportunity for passing through contra
band unless the British cruisers made Il
careful search of the whole of the cargo.
AS this could not be done with the large
ocean carriers OF today on the high seas.
IL mad become necessary to take them
TO the nearest British port. where they
could be partially or wholly unloaded
alongside the docks. The annoying de-
tentlons occasioned by the diversion of
vessels from their established voyages
was one OF the principal factors that in
duced the State Department to make the
recent formal complaint to the British
government against interference with
neutral shipping.
Searches Sequel to U. S. Action.
1t was stated by the British authori-
ties early in the war that these fire.
quent and thorough searches were
made necessary by the action of the
American Treasury Department in sus-
pending the long-establshed practice
OF making public the manifests of de-
parting ships, as otherwise the British,
cruisers could have been kept Informed
| of the neutral character of vessels in
nocent of contraband contents.
The Treasury Department olficia Is
We're quoted as placing the RESPONSE
bllity for this suspension upon the
American exporters, who, although
loath to have their ships seized or even
detained. were still less inclined 10
have the secrets of their export bust
ness. made known to their business
rivals in this country through the pub
l1catlon of their manifestS
The plan hit upon yesterday NAV he
| regarded as a compromise between the
! publication of the full manifests and
| the absolute suppression OF their con
tents 1T is proposed that the collec-
| tors, whose subordinates have s,Ipcr-
vised or inspected the loading Of a
! ship, upon application in writing from
| the owners or agents, or the exporters
| shall furnish the master with an an.
propriate certificate of the cargo as
| SHOWN on the manifest, which. while
| not being subject to publicat may
be shown to any boarding officer as q
reason why the whole should not be
| broken up.
| The customs officials, however, are
| enjoined not to attempt to determine
! "
| cargo is or is not contra band of war
Thus the boarding officer will be mad.
acquainted with every part of the car.
| go and must for himself determine
whether he is justified in OBTAINING the
| ship.