New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-22
London Officially Refuses
TO Recognize Transfer
to American Flag.
WILL TAKE SHIP
TO PRIZE COURT
Ready. However, to Buy
Cotton Cargo or Send
Ii Forward.
HOLDS CHANGE OF
REGISTRY INVALID
Statement from Embassy The
Dacia Expected to Sail.
Despite Decision.

Washington. Jan. 2i ANY doubt ss
70 the capture o. the steamer Dscia hy
British warships should she leave this
country was dispelled tonight, when
The British Embassy issued a state
ment announcing that the vessel would
be captured and taken before a prize
court because the British government
found II impossible 20 agree that the
transfer OF the vessel from German %
American ownership vas valid IN &C
cordnnce with the accepted principles
o. international law. The Dacia Is ex-
pected TO sail from Galveston for Rot
,erdsm before morning.
There ia hint in the British note
that the contention Of Great Britain
will be that the Dscia was transferred
20 escape the consequences OF var, be
cause in discussing the transfer the
statement says "in the circumstance
in which IL has been effected" The
British statement says that the cargo
the price the shippers would have re
ceived had the Dacis reached its for
eign destination or the British govern
men, will undertake TO forward the
cotton 10 Rotterdam without further
expense 10 the shippers.
"ln connection with the transfer %
H..
American flag" says the statement,
"the British government. while anxious
20 avoid causing loss to the shippers
Of the cargo, have found IT impossible
70 agree that the transfer in the cir
cumstances in which Z, has been e.
fected is valid in accordance with the
accepted principles Of international
lsw. II, therefore. the Dacia should
proceed to sea and should be captured
the British government will dud them
selves obliged TO bring the ship apart
from the cargo) before the prize court.
VIII Buy or Forward Cargo.
at is stated that the cargo Of The
Dacia is 20 consist solely OF cotton
owned BY American citizens. II this IS
so. and If the vessel should be capt
ured. the British government viii guar
antee either 10 purchase the cargo NJ
the price which would have been real
.zed b. the shippers II the cargo had
reached its foreign destination or n
preferred, they will undertake to for
ward the cotton TO Rotterdam withou.
further expense 10 the shippers
London. Jan. 2l.- Sir Edward Grey
British Foreign Secretary, submitted
to-day 70 Walter Hines Page, American
Ambassador, the reply Of the British
government 20 the State Departments
reouest that the former Hamburg
American Line steamer Dacia, which
now flies the American fag. be permit
ted 10 make special trip 70 Germany
with cargo of cotton without cstsb-
fishing a precedent as 10 the validity
Of the change in the vessels register.
The reply was sent b. Mr.. Page 20 Sec
retary Of State Bryan.
Every effort is made in the British
note 70 reassure the United states
about the Dscis's cargo, and foil ex-
planation is made that Great Britain
wishes to expedite the cotton move
ment. but che cannot abandon the po'
sition that belligeren, ships must not
be permitted 70 escape the effects o.
belligerency BY transferring TO another
flag.
The English papers recently have car
ried many dispatches stating that both
Greek and Italian firms arc negotiating
for the purchase Of :aterned German
and Austrian ships IN the Nediter-
ranesn. The Greek Legation ~ London
says IL is withou: aSy saT;ces concern
ing such prospective purchases, and the
British Foreign Office has received no
information on ;hc subject Great
Britain and her allies, however will do
everything possible to prevent any
enemy ships escaping the extreme pen
alties of war By transfer 10 the nag
OF any neutral country.
Comments Of the Press.
London newspapers are filled Nth
comments on the Dacia case. Many
.tatements are printed In which the
hone is expressed that Americans will
moi be surprised II the Daeia Is seired
and thrown into prize court, but wiil
realize that Great Britain Is acting on
what the writers declare j. \ well es'
tablishcd principle Of international iav,
which must be maintained beyond doubt
II Great Britain and her allies arc 20
prevent the German merchant marine
from escaping the Consequence Of The
war and re-entering trade injurious 10
the Allies.
Great Butains position concerning
The provisional trip of the Dac.a has
been known generally since thc United
states made rs request concerning tho
vessel. IL mas been stated without hcsi.
,.tsn, tr.t Ir.as Hrtt.fn s.uIs ' ~ par.