The chronicle=news., 1915-01-11
NOTE
NOT ENTIRELY
SAT|SF FACT0RY
State Officials Find Reason 70
Question Attitude Of
English

aSH1lSIbI, Jan. ! - ne l hllru
STATES government. it became known
today. is not altogether satisfied with
/, the note of Sir Edward Grey. giving
Great Rritain's preliminary reply to
President Wilson's protest concern
ing the treatment of American com
mcrce by the British fleet.
While gratiiicd tnat Great Britain
admits the justice of practically all
OF the principal of international law
cited in the American note. officials
reiterated today that the chief diff
ficultics had been Eneland's neglect
to make her actual practice square
with the previously accepted rule of
international law.
Figures cited in the British note
in the view of Officials here are mis-
leading because much Of the non-con-
traband goods which ordinarily go
dir, ct to Germany and Austria has
really been shipped to neutral coun-
tries because of the scarcity of ships
that would dare risk passage through
mine fields. Surely the desire Of
Germany aud Austria to use all sur
pluS plOulcllDllS has i'tiIN'h Gun /
tiguous countries of many raw ma
terials which they now are compelled
to import from the United States.
Such increases in total exports from
the United States, official here say,
would conceal the real injury to some
American industries because of their
apparent growth in trade with indi-
vidual countries.
In the next communication with
the nited States she will send TO
England as rcjoinder. the British
view that ships must be taken into
ports tor examination instead of be-
ing searched on the high seas. is cx
There is some doubt. not infrcaucntly
expressed here among officials, of
whether the practice of the British
fiect practically blockadinG the high
seas instead of German ports them
selves is not contrary to the funda-
mental principals of blockade. II
IL admitted at the state department
that action of some American export
and ship masters has placed the Brit
ish in possession of strong arSu-
mcnt of its present position. But
with the recent arrangements for
having outgoing cargoes loaded un-
der the inspection of treasury Off
cials and with the system of licenses
which the British notes states has
been arranged to insure rubber and
perhaps wool exports from America
,.Ta
officials are inclined to believe that
the way soon will be open for a
completely satisfactory understand
ing between the two governments III
regard to the treatment of neutral
shipping.
At the British embassy today this
statement was issued:
TT is understood that certain
American and Italian shipping lines
are refusing to carry goods conSlgn-
ed by name. to Sells firms and this
refusal has been attributed to some
suggestion to some action on the part
of the British authorities. There is
no authority for the latter state
ment. The British government. on
the contrary, is most anxious that
no restrictions whatever should be
placed in the way of articles intend
ed for bona iide consumption In
switzerland.
The British ambassador. Sir Cecil
Spring-Rice. had separate confer
ences today with Secretary Bryan,
Counsellor Lansing and solicitor
Johnson al the state department.
Sir Cecil discussed the note in a
general way aud found that tn"
American government would reserve
comment until the complete reply
h Il been received.
1t is understood that in the second
communication Great Britain will en-
deavor to set forth in detail its po-
sition with reference to the time
needed for searching ships. pointing
out that on account of the size or
1.-The merchant liner of today. it is es-
sential to conduct the search at ports.
incidentally it became known to-
day that Great Britain had decided
TO send a commercial advisor of high
rank to Washington to take special
charge of commercial phases OF the
diplomatic negotiations.