The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-17

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 ities to impound the money until the case
 was settled
 | Such a procedure was represented to | the government as meaning a great sav- | ing, no matter which side won, the products were not suitable for the English
 market and only could be sold by the admiralty auctioneers at prices much be- 1 low the normal. This offer was rejected ] by the government.
 Sold at Auction Many consignments have been sold at | auction since then at prices below the | cost of the Chicago production. Several thousand tons of seized products also spoiled while being trans-shipped. The approximate value of the cargoes act ually owned by Chicago packers and shipped to order was $l5000,000 virtually
 all of which had been confiscated by the
 prize court order.
 An additional s70Oo,O0o worth of prod uets consigned to and already paid for by Danish .consignees has been turned oyer in great part to the owners. The
 Cudahy consignment, valued at $110.00o, and consigned direct to Danish owners,
 has also been released.
 No Action Contemplated Washington, September 16.-The United.
 States government contemplates no ac-
 tior now in connection with the condea1 nation of American meat cargoes by the British prize court. State department of ficials explained today that while there had been some preliminary steps toward diplomatic negotiations over the seizure of the cargoes action was withheld be- cause the American packers preferred to exhaust all legal remedies in England
 before invoking aid of their government. It was recalled that once the packers , arepaled to the state department, but be- for, officials had an opportunity to frame
 a note to the British government the packers changed their minds. Therefore, the state department has been only an interested observer, and 1t was said today this condition would continue lete court of last resort in England, the judicial committee of the privy council. Packers Indignant Harry T. Norris for five years night Chicago, September 16.-"England's
 confiscation of $2,5oO.O00 worth of American meat products, as announced in the brief press dispatches today is not justified by the facts or any prin- ciple of international law" declared statement issued here today by attor-
 neys for big packing interests. Tt can only be construed as of another step in England's policy to interfere with the trade of American citizens, 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 the trial of the case no evil dence showing they were destined to such enemy of Great Britain was ad- duced and none could have been This makes necessary further presentation of stronger protests to the department of state for an equitable adjustment of the claims.
 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 orders in council issued by Great Britain even though such orders were clearly in violation of the prnciples of interna-
 tional law, and concerning which or ders our state department notified the government of Great Britain that this government would not recognize any prize court decision based upon orders in council' Notwithstanding this, American goods were seized and taken into English ports and held there for
 many months before opportunity was given to present the claims in the prize courts.
 Seizures Unwarranted rToHi the Stdrt tneSe seizures nave been arbitrary and unwarranted and
 in spite of vigorous protests of our, state department to the representatives
 of Great Britain.
 There are a number of other ship
 ments of packing house products valued
 at $12,000,000 being held up by Eng land, which have never been brought to
 the prize courts.
 "The situation is such that the pack
 CTS are making light shipments to neu- tral countries for fear of further seiz-
 Zures.
 Tt is of paramount importance that our government protests promptly and vigorously against England's interfer-
 ence with our trade With neutral na- tions and also insist upon the opening of neutral markets to unrestrict-
 ed shipments from this country as were
 enjoyed previous to the outbreak of the
 war.
 "rhe result of Great Britain's pres
 ent policy has had a depressing effect
 on the live stock market and the con-
 tinuance of this policy will have fur
 ther depressing effect on the live stock
 s.-l .-A..