INTERNED CARGOES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 9

INTERNED CARGOES

KECOVERY OF GOODS SUGGESTED PROCEDURE The following communication has been (received by the Central Chamber of Commerce from the Department of ■Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce: "Understanding that tho question of obtaining possession of New Zealand cargo oil German vessels interned in neutral ports has been exercising the minds ol' a number of merchants in this Dominion, I have the honour to forward herewith for the information of iyour members a copy of correspondence received through the High Commissioner for New Z-ilaud' from tho Colonial Office, suggesting tho procedure that should be adopted by British merchants for- the reco'very of goods belonging; to them, and detailing the action taken by the Imperial authorities to assist them in this respect.—(Signed) F. S. Pope, Secretary." The enclosuro is as under-.—Extract from, memorandum of November 6,1914, from tho Colonial Office to the High Commissioner for New Zealand: "With reference to tho Board of Trade announcement published in "The Times' of September 28, .as to the procedure to be adopted by the owners of British cargo in. enemy ships in neutral ports in order to safeguard their interests, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to' request you to inform the High Commissioner that the Board of Trade have further suggested - that British owners of cargo in every , such vessel should, so far as practicable, take concerted action with a view to the recovery of the cargo, and should instruct local agents at the various ports to make the necessary arrangements with the captain of tho vessel for its release. The Seoretary of. State for Foreign Affairs has intimated that when necessary Bis Majesty's Consul will be prepared to recommend an agent, or, if none is available, to act himself. In any case His Majesty's Consuls will do *11 iti their power to protect the interests of British owners of cargo on board these vessels. A copy of the circular telegram issued by the Foreign Office on this subject is enclosed." The copy of the telegram referred to .«.bove from the Foreign Office to'Briitsh ■Consuls in neutral ports is:— "Circular.—ln cases of British cargo in enemy , ships in neutral porta. You s tihould lend all the assistance in your joower to enable British owners of cargo lio obtain possession of their goods. M iiwners are not represented by local agents and there is reason to suppose that . tho- master proposes to dispose of 1 the teargo without tab owners' consent, you Can, if necessary, initiate proceedings'on their behalf to restrain him. You may also negotiate on behalf of owners who desire to trauship, store, or sell their goods, but have no local agent. Bear m mind that the most important thing / is to secure that perishable cargo is not detained any longer than can be helped. You will receive instructions in such cases direct from ■ the Board of' Trade, but in cases of emergency may act without waiting for instructions. Inform British consular agents in your dis- . trict." The extract from the London "Times" of, September 28, 1914, referred to above, is:—"British Cargoes in Enemy Ships in Neutral Ports.—ln response to numerous inquiries with regard to the procedure to he adopted by the owners of British' cargo in enemy ships in neutral ports, .'n otder to safeguard their interests, the Board of Trade, on the recommendation of "the Committee' on Diverted Cargoes, offer the,following suggestions and tbservations:— "I The Foreign Office'have issued 'instructions to British Consuls to give all possible assistance to British owners of cargo in enemy ships.. ' \ "2. In the case of the sale, or the 'attempted sale, of the cargo by the master of the ship, it i-iay be open to the owner of the careo to obtain redress 1 by legal proceedings in the local courts, and the owner of the cargo, if he desires to take such proceedings, should, whenever practicable, instruct looal agents to tak; tho' necessary 'steps. "3. If, in lieu of such action, the owner of the cargo desires to. arrange for the delivery of the cargo itself, or of the proceeds, if the cargo has been sold, he should give a power of attorney to'a local agent with authority to arrange for the transhipment or storage of the cargo or to remove the proceeds. This transaction would probably involve the payment to the master of the ship of the freight and other charges. "The Board of Trade, in pursuance of thmr powers under Paragraph 8 of the-Trading with the Enemy Proclamation, No. 2, dated September 9, 1914, have decided. that payments may be made by British subjects to the agents of enemy shipowners for the purpose of obtaining possession of their cargoes in neutral ports."