Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-07-25
WE ARE INFORMED :

ltllnnlen NIT lDm itbcrcln.
WE ARE INFORMED - -
Under the date Of July %, 1916,
this newspaper received the follow
ing communication from the State
Department in Washington:
Deutschcr Correspondent,
Baltimore, Md.
Gentlomon:
The Department informs you of
the receipt of o despatch from the
American Consul-General ut London,
in which he reports the seizure by
the British authorities OF certain
parcel post shipments, which were
en- route from Rotterdam to the
United States on the steamship Rot
tordam.
In this connection you are in
formed that the Ambassador at Lon
don has been instructed to inform
the British Government that the De-
partmcnt is inclined TO regard ar
ticlos shipped by parcels post as sub
jcct, in respect to search, seizure,
and condemnation by belligerent
governments, to the same treatment
as those forwarded by express or
freight; that in the Departments
opinion such articles are entitled to
the usual exemptions of neutral
trade, and that the protests of the
Government of the United States
with regard to what constitutes the
unlawful bringing in of ships for
search in port, the illegality of the
so-callcd British blockade, and the
improper assumption of jurisdiction
of vessels and cargoes, apply to COM
mcrcc transmitted through the par
cells post service.
The Department encloses here
with, for your information, print
containing an Order in Council is
sued by the British Government
March II, 1915, regarding the
stopping Of goods shipped to or from
Germany This order, which is at
present the subject of diplomatic
discussion between the Governm ent
Of the United States and the Govern
ment of Great Britain, shows the
action which the British Government
have declared their intention to take
in the matter of stopping goods COM
ing within the provisions Of the Or
der and also which they desire to
have taken by interested persons to
obtain the restoration of their goods
or payment therefor.
If you will communicate directly
with the American Consul-General
at London regarding shipments
which have been detained under this
Order in Council, he will ascertain
the status Of the goods and, when
possible, endeavor to effect their re-
lease. 1t is suggested that you
might send to the Consul-General,
for transmission to tho Procurator
General, a documentary history bear
ing on the origin and ownership Of
the goods shipped to you which have
been seized, such as correspondence
with the conslgnor, receipted bills,
and bills of lading. The Consul
General has reported to the Depart
ment that the Procurator General
has stated that in all cases there
should be included the contract for
the purchase OF the goods, as well
as the invoice covering the shipment,
which should show the country of
origin. In this way 1t may be pos
sble to obtain tho release, without
prize court proceedings or expense,
Of goods which have not been shipped
from a country at war with Great
Britain. If such release is not
brought about, the papers in any
given case may be turned over to
British solicitors, if you so desire
AS has just been stated, the Order
in Council regarding the stopping of
goods shipped to or from Germany
is at present the subject of diplo-
matte discussion between the Gov
ernment Of the United States and
the Government of Great Britain.
And neither anything contained in
this letter nor any action of the
Consul-General in connection with
his efforts to bring about the release
of goods which have been detained
should be construed as an admission
on the part Of the Government of
the United States of the legality Of
the action taken by the British Gov
ernment under this order.
Should you desire to consult
private counsel in England regard
ing this matter the American Con-
sul-General at London will doubtless
be able to furnish you on your re-
quest with the names Of several
reputable lawyers, one Of whom may
be employed in the matter. 1t should
be stated, In this connection, how
ever, that obviously neither the Con-
sul-Ceneral nor the Department can
be held responsible for the integrity