Show SAVING ALL RIGHTS preliminary STEPS TAKEN REGARDING SEIZURE OF CARGOES av FLOUR washington jan 2 the state department part ment today received from ambassador chaale at london by cable a statement of the facts he had developed in connection with the seizure by british warships of american goods on the throe merchant vessels beatrice mashona and maria the goods comprised not only flour but miscellaneous articles 0 common trade they were shipped for lourenco marques in british and german ships but our officials contend that they were not to seizure they could not however lodge representations on the subject until they were possessed of a knowl odge of the facts and as soon as mr choates statement came to hand toi day on instruction wad cabled to him to inform the british government that we could not admit the right of the sei sAire in these cases this is the preliminary step usually taken in such negotiations next in order will be a report from our consular at lourenca Louren cu marques respecting the present condition of the seized or detained gobus and the damage sustained the state department Is not yet fully informed on these points necessary to the further presentation of the cases it Is even known just where the aye or it they have all been seized or only in part it will be the duty of our consular agent at lourenco marques to ascertain and report these facts and he Is now engaged in doing this under the original instructions of the state department while the department is acting aa it promised in the beginning to firmly protect all american rights of trade ib is showing no unseemly hasto in the presentation of the case instruction st to mr choate was not a de roand for the release of the goods nor yet for indemnity amt rather precautionary notice to tho british government to save all of our rights in the case it will be sufficient to initiate tho settlement of the matter by negotiation tia tion the state department having not the slightest doubt that tho british authorities will make full amends to the owners of the goods when the facts are all laid before them |