Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-28
LANSING SENDS PROTEST
AGAINST MAIL SEIZURES
Text OF Dispatch to Ambassadors
Page Made Public by State
Department.
REPLY SOON IS EXPECTED
Right Of British Authorities to Seize
Neutral Vessels Plying Directly
between American and Neutral
Ports Is Not Admitted.

Special to The Times Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON. Ian. 27.-The state
department tonight made public the
text or Its dispatch 10 Ambassador
rage in9tructinG him to protest to
Great Britain against the seizure OF
American letter mail. parcel post pack
ages and certain merchandise carried
by neutral ships.
The department Rave out also "A brief
communication from Sir Edward Grey
that Great Britain was consulting with
her allies. and would reply 10 the pro-
test as soon as decision has been
reached
An important feature OF the depart
mcnts protest Is It's statement that II
Will not admit the right OF British
authorities 10 seize neutral vessels
plying directly between American and
neutral European ports which do not
touch AT British ports and remove from
them IN" mails they carry.
Ambassador Page was instructed to
inform Great Britain that her seizures
have aroused strong feeling against
her In this country: that her practice
Is regarded as "vcXat!ously lnquIs!-
torial" and that It has been accom-
panied by "aggravatirR circumstances"
he was directed also to press for a
discontinuance OF these unwarranted
!ntcrfcrenccs with inviolable mails"
TEXT OF DISPATCH
no PAGE IN LONDON
The text OF tho dispatch TO Mr. Page
is as follows:
Tho Secretary OF State to Ambassador
". II. Page. Department Of State.
Washington. January 4. 1916
Department, advised that British
customs authorities removed from
a. O.,
parcel mail en- route from United
States 10 Norway. sweden and Den
mark that British port authorities
have removed from Swedish steamer
'ochholm dfty-eight bags parcel mail.
On route GothenburS, Sweden. to New
York; that 1000 packages Of mer-
chand!sc. American property. have been
seized b. British authorities ON the
Danish steamer United States on her
last trip 10 The United States that
customs authorities az kirkwall on
December Is seized 5'7 bags OF parcel
mall from steamer Frederick VIII
manifested for NORWAY. Sweden and
D"nmark. other similar cascs Nigh,
hc mentioned. such az that Of the
steamer iieligolav Department in
c.lued 10 regard parcel post articles
as subject TO sam. treatment as ar
tc!cs scnt az cNprcss or freight In
respect 10 helligcrent search seizure
ana concentration on the other hand
parcel post articles are entitled TO the
usual exemptions OF neutral trade and
IN" protests OF tho government OF tho
United states, In regard 10 what con-
kttutts the unlawful bringing I'm OF
chips for search IN port. the illegali,y
~ so-called blockade by Great Britain
ANA tho improper assumption OF jurls-
6ictio1 ~ vessels and cargocs apply
10 commerce using parcel pos, scr
In vsn ,S
ties Please bring this matter az parcel
post formally to the attention OF the
BRUSH government
The department Is further informed
that on December % the entire mails.
Including scaled mails and. prcsumably,
the American diplomatic and consular
pouches, from the United states 10 tho
Netherlands we're removed hy British
authorities from thc Dutch steamer
New Amsterdam: that on Deconbcr 20
tho Dutch vessel Noordcr DYKE was
deprived At the Downs OF American
mall from tho United states 10 Rot,er-
dam, and shat these malls arc st!ll
held by British authorities other
similar Instances could hc mentioned
as til" cases Of III" steamers Rotterdam
and Noorda ii. and tho department can
not admit tn" right Of British authori-
tics 70 seize neutral vessels plying
directly between American and ncu-
trial European ports. without touching
~ british ports. TO bring them into
9ort. and, while there. TO remove or
censor malls carried by them Modern
practice generally recognizes that
mails arc not to bc censored, CON
fscat.d or DESTROYED on high seas
even when carried by bclli-erent mail
siiDs To attain same end nv bringing
such mail ships within British juris-
diction for purposes of search and then
1. H..
allowing censorship OF mails cannot he
justified on the ground OF national
Jurisdiction. In cases where neutral
mail ships merely touch NJ British
ports. the department believes that
british authorities have no intcrna-
;ioual right 10 remove the sealed malls
or IN censor them on board ship Mails
such ships never rightfully come
into the custody OF the British mail
service. and that service is entirely
without responsibility for their transit
or safety.
AS result Of British action. strong
feeling is being aroused in this cour-
try on account of the loss OF valuable
letters. money orders and drafts. and
foreign banks are refusing to cash
American drafts owing 10 the absence
OF any security that the drafts will
travel safely In the mails. Moreover
the detention OF diplomatic and con-
sular mail is an aggravating circum-
stance In practice which Is generally
regarded in this country as vexatiously
inruisitorla1. and without compen-
satinE military advantage TO Great
Britain. Please lay this matter i'm
mcdately before the British govern
ment in a formal and vigorous protest,
and press for n discontinuance OF these
unwarranted interference with in
violahie malls. Impress upon Sir Ed
ward Grey the necessity for PROMPT
action In this matter.
tSigncdD LANSING"
COMMUNICATION RECEIVED
FROM SIR EDWARD GREY
The communicati ton from Sir Edward
Grey is contained In the following
statement given out to-day by the
state Departments
January 26. 1916.
I'm reply to Ambassador Pages note
OF January 10, regarding the removal