Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1900

Mr. Stowe to Mr. Cridler.

Consulate-General of the United States,
Cape Town , December 6, 1899 .

No. 191.]

Sir: I have the honor to report that there arrived at this port on September 6, on the way to Delagoa Bay, the Netherlands ship Maria, with cargo consisting largely of flour, canned meats, and oats. The goods for the Transvaal were plainly marked. The ship was detained by the British authorities, but finally was allowed to proceed. Yesterday the British ship Mashona was seized at Port Elizabeth by H. M. S. Partridge. The Mashona was from New York, with 5,000 tons of general cargo, including 17,000 bags of flour for the Transvaal, via Delagoa Bay. She will probably be brought to this port. Is food stuff, such as flour, contraband? Being a British ship, has the British Government a right to seize?

I have, etc.,

J. G. Stowe,
United States Consul-General.