CO129-417 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 355

(72497/14).

343

were being carried from a foreign port may be doubtful,

but if they were coming from a British port, the Trad ing

with the Enemy proclamation of August 5th (which was

then in force) forbidding the carriage of any goods des-

tined for enemy territory would apply. Whichever pro-

clamation the case falls under, a British official would

appear to be justified in preventing the carriage of

goods which he suspected would go to enemy territory,

especially when those goods are munitions of war.

With regard to the question of compensation the

right would probably depend on the reasonableness of

Sir E. Fraser's suspicions, which are strongly supported

by the fact that Armstrong Whitworth and Company's agente

were Germans and under German jurisdiction. So far however

as the Secretary of State is aware, although since the

outbreak of war the actions of British officials have

caused loss to British Steamships in many instances, His

Majesty's Government have not admitted liability in any

case, but have left claimants to establish any rights which

they