, 1916-05-31

in support of their argument regarding par
eel mails. In this case the Letter mails OF
the Fioride amounting to 144 sacks were for
warded 10 their destination by the command
er at the first opportunity upon arriving IN
the United States. 1t would seem therefore
to be cOnclusively established that the inter-
ferelces wish mails Of which this Cove. nmuMt
Justly complains are wrong IN principle and
and in practice. The arbitrary methods
employed by the British and Ftehch Govern
ments have resulted most dis strops,y 20 Cit
liens of the United State. Important papers,
which cap never be duplicate or can 90 du-
plicatet only with great difficulty such rs
United States patents for inventions, ,are
documents, lega! papers relating 10 the set
tlement of estates, powers Of attorney, fire
insurance claims, income tax returns au.t
similar matters, have been lost. DELAYS ~
receiving shipping documents have caused
great loss aud Inconvenience by preventing
prompt delivery of goods. Business oppor-
tunities are lost by failure to transmit
promptly specifications an contracts. The
Standard Underground Gable Company of
Pittsburg, for example. sent by mail u tender
and specifications for certain proposed cleo
trical works to be constructed IN CHRISTENING,
after several weeks Of waiting the papers
have failed to arrive, The American Company
WAS IOlU IIuC 'lS DluS COUiU DOt DS longer
held open and the contract was awarded to
a British competitor. Cheques, drafts, mon
ey orders, securities and similar property arc
lost or detained for weeks and months.
Business correspondence relating TO le2itim-
ate aud bona tide trade between neutral
countries, correspondence of a personal nature,
aud also certain Official correspondence such
money order lists and other matters for
wurded by Government departments are
detained lost or possibly destroyed. As nm
example of the delay and lose consequent
upon the British practice the Postmaster
General also sends me n copy of II letter
from the British Postal Administrator admit
ting that the mails were removed from the
steamer Medan in the Downs on January
30!h last and not forwarded until some time
between the second OF February and the 2ud
of March and thai 172 bags of these mails
were lost during transmission to Holland on
the 26th day OF February by The Dutch
steamer Mecklenburg. The Medau arrived
safely at Rotterdam a day or two after she
left the Downs Numerous complaints sim
liar to the foregoing have been received by
this Government. Not only are American
commercial interests iniuteG but rights of
property are violated and tho rules of inter
national Law and custom are ~palpably disre-
garded. [ can only add that this continuing
offence has led to such losses to American
citizens and to q possible responsibility of
the United States TO repair them that his
Government will be- compelled in the near
future to press claims for full reclamation
upon the attention of His Maj=sty's Govern
ment and that OF the French Republic.
The principle being plain and defn-
ito and the present practice Of the Gov
ernments of Great Britain and France
being clearly in contraventIon of the priD-
ciples, l will state more in detail the posi-
ton of the Government of tAe United
States in regard to the treatment of cer-
tain classes Of sealed mails under a strict
application of the principle upon which our
Government seems torbe in general accord.
The Government of the United States is in
clined to the opinion that the class Of
mail matters which includes stock bonds.
coupons and similar securities is to be re-
garded as of the same nature as merchandise
or other articles of property. and subject to
the same exercise Of belligerent rights, money
orders, checks, drafts, notes and other nego-
table instruments, which may pass rs the
equivalent of money are, it is considered, also
to be classed as merchandise. Correspon-
dence including shipping documents, money
order lists and papers of that character, even
though relating to enemy SUPPLIES or oXDOrt