The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-02-05
GRAIN NOW CONTRABAND
England Will Seize all Grain Destln'
ed for Germany.

Washington Ambassador Page
of London, cabled the state depart
ment Tuesday that the British fleet
had been ordered to treat all cargoes
of grain and flour destined for Ger
many or Austria as conditional con-
traband, subject to seizure and con-
! fiscation.
This step, the ambassador explained
! followed the announcement that Use
German government had decreed con-
/ fiscation Of ali grain and flour to CON
serve the nations food supply Since
the publication of the German ORDER
| the ambassador here, Count Won Bern
storff, personally has assured tne
American government that no 1000
| stuffs imported from tie United States
or neutral countries would be suplecl
1 to seizure, and the press dispatches
have announced the issuance OF
modifying decree making such e&cep-
tions by the German government
Il Ambassador Page said the British
government had informed him that
because the steamship WilhelmlAa
now bound from New York to HAM
burg with grain and other food, hao
sailed before the issuance of the Ger
man decree, an exception would be
made in her case.
The vessel would be seized, 1t was
said, but would be released and her
cargo purchased at invoice price by
the British government Warming was
given however, that other shipments
hereafter Of like character, when des-
tined for Germany, directly or indi-
rectly would be seized as we'll as the
| 40 fhpn1 without COM
pensation being paid.
This announcement put an entirely
new complexion on the negotiations
that have been in progress intermit-
tently since the beginning OF the war
in regard to the right of neutral states
to ship food supplies to belligerent
countries.
In the British note to Secretary
Bryan regarding the Dacia, it was
stated the conclusion had not been
reached to interfere with such ship
ments, providing they were intended
for the non-combatting elements OF
the population and not for the army
of a belligerent state with which Eng
land is at war. 1t was minated
then, however, that the exceptional
: conditions of the present war might
> warrant some such action as an act
: of retaliation.
The state department has not de-
sided what shall be done in the mat
: ter, and is considering carefully the
! whole subject
Washington, Great Britain mott
fled the United States Tuesday, though
not officially that foodstuffs of any
: kind destined for Germany, Austria
I or Turkey would be regarded as con-
traband.
The action of the British govern
| ment is based on the recent German
decree whereby that government will
| take over all grain in Germany fol
/ common use.
II Because the Steamer Wilhleminf
sailed from New York for Bremen be.
fore the issuance of the decree, 1t Ii
understood her cargo of food for Ger
man civilians will be paid for and ap-
propriated by the British government
and the ship allowed to go free.
| But hereafter food laden ships sail.
ing from the United States directly fol-
German ports or for neutral ports II
Europe, where it appears that the car
go may ultimately reach Germany
| will be subject to seizure outright, shiI
and cargo without compensation
The state department now is consid
ering this latest announcement of the
British government, but so far has no
committed itself.-Statesman