The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-27

Christihnia After several weeks of
waiting, the papers having failed to
arrive, the American Company was
told that thebids could not be longer
held open and the contract was
awarded tc British competitor.
Z Checks, drafts, money orders. Sc
curities and similar property are lost
or detained for weeks and months
business correspondence relating to
legitimate and bonafide trade be-
tween neutral countries, correspond
enCe Of personal nature and also GER
tain official correspondence, such as
money order lists and other matter
forwarded by government depart
ments, and detailed. lost or possibly
destroyed For instance. the post
master general informs me that GER
tain international money order lists
from the United states 10 Germany,
Greece and other countries. and from
Germany to the United States, sent
through themails have not reached
their- destination. though dispatched
several months ago. II was necessary
TO have some of these lists duplicated
and again dispatched by the steam
$nin Frederick VIII. which sailed
from New York on April 10. and
from which all themails intended for
Germany have been. taken and heid
III British Jurisdiction
A. "A further example OF the delay
and loss consequent, upon the British
pTa ctice, the Postmaster General also
Dis me q copy OF a letter from the
Rrueh postal administration, admit
tH"t the mails were removed
from the steame- Medan in the Downs
tu January 80 last. and not for
warded until some time between the
nd Of February and the 2nd OF
March, and that 1872 bags of these
mails were lost during transmission
70 Holland on the 2"th day OF Febru-
"rS by the Dutch steamer MeCklen-
burg, The Medan arrived afely at
RottC' dam day or two after she left
the Downs Numerous complaints
similar to the foregoing have been re-
ceived by this government, the details
Of which are available, bat | believe
have cited sufficient facts to show
the unprecedented and vexatious ma
tures OF the interference with mails
PERSISTED In by British and French au-
thorities NOT only are American com.
me-cial Interests injured. but rights OF
property ARE violated and the rules
of international law and custom are
palpably disregarded
can only add that this continuing
offense has led TO such losses TO
American citizens and TO a posi- Bile
''NfF'fNa''i'i VI the l niAtu states W
repair them. that this government
will he compelled In the near future
10 press claims for full reclamation
upon the attention OF His Maiesty's
government and that of the French
Republic
Nail Ca~~ed As Merchandise
The principle being plain and
definite. and the present practice OF
the governments of Great Britain and
France being clearly in ntravention
of the principle. | will state more in
detail the position OF the. gov srument
of he tnithd states in regard 10 the
treatment Of certain classes Of sealed
mails under II strict application OF the
principles upon which our govern
ments seem to he in general accord
The government OF the United States is
inclined 10 the opinion that the class
OF mail matter which includes stocks
bonds. coupons and similar securities
ia to be regarded as OF the same ma
ture ms merchandise or other articles
Of property and subject to the same
exercise Of bptttFprrNt rights. Money
orders. checks drafts. notes and other
negotiable Instruments which may pass
as the equivalent nf money are, II is
considered, also to he classed az mer-
chandise Correspondence including
slipping documents, money order
lists and papers Of that character
even though raIotjng m "eper,y sn,'
niles or exnorts" nnlass rarriaa IN
the me shin as N. nronnr,,. rafar
red 10 are in the oninion of ,bis gov
ernmrnt ia no rerardnd &C "gor,,Jr =
rnrrssuoudpn -er7+++t.1 - -
noIestet Massage W
/ The rovernne,t ~, The y.n,..s
! States in ,icw ~ The i,,,,rn,,,,.
methods cmn,ove,, Nv tho nr,,ts,,
ana French nuthoritte. IN trtar.
runttny mails nnssiny hetween the
Tnltcft states and o.hcr nau,ra,
countries and hetxrcen The Tnt,ed
states and rho enemies os Creat
Britain. can no lonyer tolerate
the wronps which the c,tixcns M
the United states have suffered
and continue TO sufYer through
Ia, e. methods. To submit, tosn
lawless proctIce OF this character
,,ouid omen the ,oor 70 rcneated
/ violations of international law hy
the b.lIircrcut powers an the
ground OF military necessity of
which the yiotator wouId he the
sole. Judge. MnntscstIv = neutral
a. ~.