Evening star., 1915-01-11
U. S. Officials Declare Eng
lands Acts Do Not Square
With International Law.
GREYs TRADE STATISTICS
ARE SUBJECT OF DISPUTE
Taking of Ships to Port to Search
Also Declared to Be Against
Usage.

The United States government, it be-
came known today. is not altogether
satisfied with the note of Sir Edward
Grey giving Great Britain's prelimi-
nary reply to President Wilson's pro-
test concerning the interference with
American commerce by the British
fleet.
Although gratifed that Great Britain
admits the justice of practically all
the principles of international law
cited in the American note. officials re-
iterated today that the chief difficulty
had been Englands neglect to make
her actual practice square with the
previously accepted rules Of interna-
tional law.
1t is realized by officials here that a
long diplomatic correspondence con-
ceding the principles of the American
case, but not actually carrying them
into practice. will not meet the COM
plants of American exporters and ship
pers, and, although England's supple
mentary answer is expected to give a
ton. officials plan to take up vigorous
ly all individual cases which may
| meanwhile arise.
omeials are keenly appreciative Of
and Il the promises it makes for re-
dress in case of unwarranted injury
to American commerce. They point
out, however. that the note in its ci-
tation of statistics had not taken up
one of the chief points of the American
argument British statistics were
brought forward to argue that Ameri-
can commerce with neutral countries
had not suffered as seriously as had
been represented, but administration
officials here contend that one Of the
chief purposes of the American pro-
test was to prevent depletion of Amer
ican commerce by continuation Of
British practices. The American note.
they said, was framed with the yery
idea of forestalling destruction Of
American trade.
British Figures Disputed.
Figures cited in the British note, In
the view OF officials here are mislead-
ing, because much of the non-contra-
band goods which ordinarily go direct
to Germany and Austria has really
been shipped to neutral countries be-
cause of the scarcity of ships that
would dare risk passage through mine
fields to German ports. Similarly, the
desire of Germany and Austria to use
all surplus production has deprived
contiguous countries OF many raw ma
terfals. which they now are compelled
to import from the United States. Such
increases in total exports from the
United Sta tes, officials here saw would
conceal the real injury to some Ameri-
can industries because of their appar-
ent growth in trade with Individual
countries.
England's statement that out of 773
ships which proceeded from the United
States to neutral countries in Europe
since the outbreak of the war only
forty-five had had cargoes placed in the
prize courts. while only eight of the
ships themselves had gotten into the
courts. was regarded by officials and
diplomats here as proving that the
bulk of American commerce was of a
legitimate character and had yielded
only forty-five doubtful cases. There
Is no mention made in the British note
of American ships which were de-
tained. some of them for two weeks,
for extended examination.
U. S. Rejoinder Next.
In the next communication which
the United States will send to Eng
land as a rejoinder. the British view
that ships must be taken into ports
for examination instead of being
searched on the high seas. is expected
to be vigorously disputed. There is
some doubt, not infrequently express
ed here among officials, of whether the
practice Of the British fleet. practically
blockading the high seas instead of
German ports themselves, is not con-
trary to the fundamental principles of
I, blockade.
It is not unlikely that before the
American reply is finally sent the State
Department will give out statistics
showing where and when American
ships have been detained.
It is admitted at the State Depart
hot n
exporters and shipmasters has placed
the British in possession of, a strong
argument in favor of it's present posi-
ton But with the recent arrange
loaded under the inspection of Treasury
officials, and with the system of IL
censes which the British note states
has been arranged to insure rubber
and perhaps wool exported from Amer
lea from reaching Germany and Aus
tria, officials are inclined to believe
that the way soon will be open for
completely satisfactory understanding
between the two governments in
gard to the treatment of neutral ship
ping, and they are encouraged in that
belief by the frank and responsive tone
of the British note
Holds Three Conferences.
The British ambassador, Sir Cecil
Spring Rice had separate conferences TO-
day with Secretary Bryan, Counselor
Lansing and Solicitor Johnson at the State
Department. He told Mr.. Bryan it would
be several days before the full British
reply, to which the note received yester-
day Is preliminary, was delivered at
Washington.
Al the British embassy today this
statement was issued:
ut is understood that certain Ameri-
can and Italian shipping lines are re-
name to Swiss firms, and that this re-
fusal has been attributed in some quar-
ters to some suggestion or action on
the part of the British authorities.
There is no foundation whatever for
the latter statement; the British gov
ernment is, on the contrary, most anx-
| ious that no restrictions whatever
should be placed in the way Of arti-
cles intended for bona fide consump-
tion in Switzerland"
Text of the Note.
The note, in full. is as follows: