Mr. Hay to Mr. Choate.
Washington, February 21, 1900.
(Mr. Hay states that Peabody & Co. bring the Department’s attention to newspaper reports to the effect that the British naval authorities have seized the steamer Sabine on the ground of carrying contraband cargo for the Boers; that they have shipments aggregating $30,000 to $40,000 made in January, to Mossel Bay, Algoa Say, and Durban, on orders from Cape merchants. The cargo is to be landed at British ports, the destination of the vessel being only such ports, and the port authorities may presumably, and are assumed to be bound to, prevent transshipment through British territory of contraband destined for the Boers. Mr. Hay deplores the action of the naval authorities, declaring that such seizure seems unnecessary and seriously destructive of legitimate American trade, and directs that Mr. Choate take necessary steps looking to the protection of the interests of American shippers.)