Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate.
Washington, January 27, 1900.
[Mr. Hay states that the reported landing (see Mr. Choate’s telegram of January 26) of the Beatrice’s cargo at East London, and the permitted removal of large quantities of the landed goods for purposes of local and bona fide Portuguese consumption, seemed to imply an embargo on the sale and delivery of noncontraband goods in ordinary course of trade with the people of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, and would be in conflict with the assurances given by the British Government that foodstuffs with hostile destination are not contraband of war unless intended as supplies for the enemy’s forces (Mr. Choate’s telegram of January 10) and inadmissible from the view point of the United States Government. Mr. Choate is instructed to draw attention to the discrepancy and to ask that appropriate orders be given if necessary.]