New Britain herald., 1915-12-03
U. 5. WILL PROTEST
 TAKING OF ROCKING
Vigorous Representations to Be
 Sent to Great Britain
IN SHEA MSHIP CASE

sel Be Retained in Prize Court and
 That the Latter Act Promptly Re-
 garding Affair.
 Washington, Dec. 3-Vigorous rep i resentations will be made to Great Britain by the United States against the requisitioning of the American steamship Hooking without prize court proceedings. This became known today after the receipt of official confirmation from American Consul General Young at Halifax of reports that the Hooking had been held.
 The ship, alleged to be part Ger man owned, has been detained at Halifax since her seizure by British warship while enroute from New York to Norfolk.
 International Law Violated.
 The action of Great Britain is held to be in violation of international law A demand will be made it is understood that the ship be retain ed in prize court and that the court act promptly in the case.
 The representations probably will include also the cases of the Gene see and the Kankakee which also are owned by the American Transat~ lantic Co. The state department has been notified by the company that the Genesee at St. Lucia, w. l., has ben requisitioned and that the Kan kakee now enroute to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, would be requisi- toned.
 Action Under Order-in Council.
 Attorneys acting for Great Britain in the cases base their motions for orders of requisition upon British order-in-council issued April 29, which the United States is not, pre- pared to accept as in accordance with international law
 The state jdepartm ent now is await ing report from Ambassador Page at London who, after the department had received unofficial intimation of the intention of the British govern Inent, was instructed to inquire into the matter and to enter vigorous protest if he found that reauisition was contemp plated. Although no in formation had been received from Ambassador Page today, it was pre- sumed by department officials that he had received confirmation in London. The department desires to know just what action MT. Page has taken be- fore determining what form further representations shall take.
 45,OOO Pounds Sterling.
 Consul General Young's dispatch said that when the order allowing requisition was granted by the prize court in Halifax yesterday afternoon, i: was stipulated that the crown should give an undertaking for the appraised value of the ship. The crown, under this arrangement, agrees to pay the amount of the ap- praisement into the court should final adjudication in the cases be against the British government. Dis- patches received by Counsellor Polk of the state department from attor- neys for the American Transatlantic company however, states that in the case of the Genesee the undertaking had been fixed at 45,0O0 pounds sterling.
 Officials of the state department al- ready are arranging the legal argu- ments which may be used in the case. They have found that during the Civil war certain neutral ships were seized and requisitioned by the United States before prize court adjudication. Most of these ships, however, are said to have been blockade runners
 Owned by Americans.
 The department also was informed last night that the American Transat- lantic company had nearly completed it's collection faf1idavits from the holders of stock in the corporation, which will it is claimed, prove that the company is wholly owned by American citizens. All but two of the affidavits, it was said, had been col lected Those now on hand, it was said, might be immediately submitted to the state department for its infor- nation. It is claimed they show that at least 90 per cent. of the stock is owned by American citizens.
 The Hooking was requisitioned un- der authority of a rule of prize court procedure, provided for by the order in council, reading as follows
 ''Where it is made to appear to the judge on the application of the proper officer of the crown that it is desired to requisition on behalf of his majesty a snip III respect UT WHICH Ao lIldl decree of condemnation has been made, he shall order that the ship shall be appraised, and that upon an undertaking be given the ship shall be released and delivered to the crown"
 Rule in Amendment.
 This rule, was contained in an amendment which was made after the attorney appearing for the British government in the case of a neutral ship which had been requisitiOned. contended that a belligerent state had a right to acquisition, according to international law for 1,roept purDOSeS