Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-09-17
COnfiSCaiion of
American Meat
CHICAGO PACKERS WILL LOSE
APPROXIMATELY s15,oooooo
BRITISHpRIzE COURT
Packers Declare IT is Not Justified by
Any Principle of international Law
assert That II is Another Step in
Ensiand's Policy to Interfere With
American Trade.

Chicago. Sept. 1s.-If the confsca-
ton of American meat cargoes ordered
IN London today is upheld on appeal
from the British prize court Chicago
packers will lose approximately $I5,-
100000 at which the shipments were
valued. The packers, however. hare
not yet given mp the fight.
Attorney Henry Vieder, c. ]. Faulk-
ner. Jr. and NJ. w. Borders, repre-
senttng Swift and Company, Armour
and Company and Morris and Com
pany, this afternoon gave the follow
ing joint statement concerning the
decision OF the British prize court re-
ceived today.
Shipments Were to Neutral Countries.
'England's conhscation of $2.50o. 900
worth OF American meat products, as
announced in the British press des-
patches today, Is not justified by the
facts or any principle Of international
law. 1t can only be construed as of
another step in England's policy TO in
terfere with the trade OF American
lcitizens, with the citizens of neutral
countries. All these shipments were
destined to neutral countries and the
ships papers, at the time Of their
seizure, clearly showed such fact. They
were not destined to or for the enemy
OF Great Britain and upon trial of
the case no evidence showing they
We're destined to such enemy OF Great
Britain was adduced and none could
have been. This makes necessary fur
ther presentation of stronger protests
to the department Of state for an
equitable adjustment of the claims.
Complied with Every Regulation.
Prior to the time OF the seizure of
these shipments. every effort was made
to comply with every regulation and
restriction made by the various Or
ders in council issued by the govern
ment of Great Britain placed on such
shipments, even though such orders
were clearly in violation of the prin-
ciples of international law and con-
corning which orders our state de-
partment notified the government OF
Great Britain that this government
would not recognize any prize court
decision based upon orders in council
or upon any rules or regulations other
than the recognized principles Of In
fact Of compliance with every order
| Issued by them. whether reasonable OF
otherwise, American goods were seized
and taken into English ports and held
| there for many months before oppor-
tunity was given to present the claims
In the prize courts.
No Justification for Seizure.
"It would appear from the brief des-
patches that the court bases It's right
to seize the shipments on the theory
that the amount of products being
shipped to Denmark in these neutral
ships IS in excess Of quantities re-
ceiyed prior to the declaration Of war
| These neutral countries received large
| Quantities of these products through
German ports prior TO the war and
through other sources OF supply which
the war shut Off. That these countries
want more of our products than be-
fore furnished no justification for such
seizure.
TN contradiction of this contention
Sir Samuel Evans, who decided this
case, stated in another case:
In the Antares case March s, 1915
| Gas reported in Lloyds' list) 1t was
pointed out by the Judge that the ex-
ports of American copper for neutra,
countries contiguous to Germany had
increased for a period during the wal
corresponding with a similar period
/ In 1918, from about 100000 IN l191.
to over 90, ,o0o, 900 In 1914 but, said the
president tSir Samuel Evans), I an
not, saying for moment that this Il
proof that this copper was INTENDED
for Germany"