New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-12
WELHELMINA CARGO
NOT REALLY SEIZED
Vessel is Remaining at
Falmouth Pending
Investigation.
p, cable TO The Tribune J

London. Feb I2.,"The Daily Chron-
icIs" is officially informed that II Is
not quite correct 10 say that the Amer
lean steamer Nilheimjna has been ce-
layed or her cargo has been seized.
As TO detention, the vessel put INTO
Falmouth owing TO stress OF weather
and thus the question OF seizure WAS
by purely fortuitous circumstances
avoided As to the cargo, the
correct version Of the present
situation is that the vessel Is
remaining" at Falmouth pending the
investigation Of the question OF what
will be done with the cargo. This IS
a Cabinet matter. and II is not PosNDIe
at present TO say that the WlIhelmina
will not be permit'el 10 convey her
cargo 20 Germany. The indications at
present favor the assumption that she
viii not be permitted to do so. ..,
4 considerable time ago the British
-.overrment informed Washington Of its
precise intentions regarding the Wilhel-
nina's cargo. Since then, although ample
time has elapsed, the State Department
has made no protest and entered no
plea. Il is considered unlikely that
there will be any objection 10 the
seizure The captain of the Wilhelmina
to-day informed the American author
tiles here that he had been informed
the cargo would go to prize court. II
the cargo is seized the owners OF the
CARO- will be fully reimbursed by the
government. and vii suffer no loss
whatever. The scheme FOR the purchase
Of the cargo by the Belgian Relief Com
mission has apparently been abandoned
fRy The Associated Press
lat h9 a
American steamer Wilhelmina was
seized by the British authorities here
to-day, in accordance with the dec sion
of the Foreign Office. The cargo is to
go 10 a prize court.
Norvin L. Lindheim, Of counsel for
the owners of the Wilhelmina's cargo,
said Yesterday that he had received as
surances from the State Department
that. in the event of the decision Of
the English prize court being "in the
judgment Of our government not sup
ported by evidence or warranted by our
construction Of the law, our govern
ment will make protest"
The position which the owners take
he said. is that the seizure of the full
cargo "is in clear contravention OF all
existing principles of international
law" They had been advised, he said
by Secretary Bryan that they had a
perfect right to make the shipment. and
that the state Department had full
knowledge Of all the facts.
"The preteXt under which the British
government has seized this cargo Is the
recent regulation of the German Fed
eral Council concerning the conserva-
ton Of grain and -four" he continued
at should be remembered that prior
TO the issuance of these regulations
and after the Wilhelmina cleared the
port Of New York, it was stated in
England that tho cargo would be
seized and sent to the prize court. Now
after the issuance Of this German regu-
lation. Great Britain has shifted hei
position. and bases her action upon the
official conservation Of grain and flour
in Germany.
This regulation of the German Fed
eral Council specifically states: The
foregoing regulations do not apply tC
grain and -four imported after January
81, 1915 Il is thus clear that I'll,
PRONUNCIATION of this regulation die
not affect the cargo Of the Wilhelmina
IN any particular
"Under the most forced construction
from the British point of view, II coult
only have affected that small portion Of
the cargo consisting OF grain and -four
The bulk Of its cargo, however, con
sists Of meat, vegetables and fruit
which are in no wise covered by sale
regulations.
"ln addition. the German government
has officially guarantecd'to the United
States government that the foodstuff'
in this cargo will not reach the Ger
man government or any of its agents
contractors or military or naval forces
and in proof of its good faith ha!
consented that the distribution OF tn,
foodstufs be made under the super
vision OF the American diplomatic anC
consular representatives.
I'm short, the British position il
that the issuance Of a regulation con
corning grain and -four, which, how
ever. specifically excerpts imported
grain and -four. affects a cargo o.
foodstufTs Of varied nature, shipped be
fore the issuance Of this regulation
and in face Of government guaTante,
TO be controlled under the supervision
/ Of the representatives of the United
States Government. The mere state
ment of such a position demonstrate
its untenability."
Mr. Lindheim later supplemented hi
statement with an estimate Of the pro
portion Of the grain and -four the vii
/ helmina carried.
"The volume Of the grain and houl
in the cargo was only $4,000" he said
The rest Of the cargo, valued a
$4,000. consisted Of foodstufs no
mentioned in the German Fedora
Councils regulation. Thus the British
act OF seizure Of an entire cargo
worth 100000 is based upon the Brit
ish protest against only about Is pei
cent Of that cargo
Flour Worth 100000
CT. e.. ID 4, I 81 ~