The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
2924. The Department is advised by American consuls in Hongkong, Nagasaki, and Shanghai, and by the owners of the American S. S. China, that on the 18th instant the British cruiser Laurentic stopped the China on the high seas, about 10 miles from the entrance to the Yangtze River, boarded her with an armed party, and, despite the captain’s protest, removed from the vessel 28 Germans, 8 Austrians, and 2 Turks, including physicians and merchants, and took them to Hongkong, where they are detained as prisoners in the military barracks. As it is understood that none of the men taken from the China were incorporated in the armed forces of the enemies of Great Britain, the action of the Laurentic must be regarded by this Government as an unwarranted invasion of the sovereignty of American vessels on the high seas. After the notice given to the British Government of this Government’s attitude in the Piepenbrink case in March last, which was based upon the principle contended for by Earl Russell in the Trent case, this Government is surprised at this exercise of belligerent power on the high seas far removed from the zone of hostile operations. Please lay this matter before the British Government immediately and vigorously insist that, if the facts prove to be as reported, orders be issued for the immediate release of the persons removed from the China.