The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-11
NOT SATISFIED
WITH THE REPLY
Americas Note to England Was With the Idea of
Forestalling the Destruction of Trade Principles
of Blockade Violated in General Searches on
High Seas

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11-The United
State government, il became known to-
day. j. not altogether satisfied with tho
note Of Sir Edward Grey, giving Great
Britains preliminary reply 70 President
Wilson's protest concerning the treat
mont OF American commerce by the Brit
ish feet.
While sraGfed that Great Britain ad-
mits the Justice of practically all the prin-
ciples Of international law cited in the
| American note officials reiterated today
that the chief difficulty had been Eng
lands neglect TO make her actual prac-
tiec square with the previously accepted
rules of international law
1T Is realized by officers here that a
| long diplomatic correspondence concedng
the principles OF the American case, bnt
not actually carrying them into practice.
VIII not meet the complaints Of American
exporters and shippers. and although Eng
lands supplementary answer is expected
10 give moro detailed statement Of the
position officials plan to take mp all indi-
yidual cases which may arise in the
meantime.
Officials are keenly appreciative of the
friendly tone of the British note and oi
the promises it makes for redress IN case
OF unwananted injury to American com
merce
They point out. however. that the note
in its citation of statistics had not taker
mp one Of the chief points Of the Amer
lean argument
The British statistics were brought for
ward to argue that American commerc,
. had not suffered a. seriously az stated
but officials contend that one 81 the chic
purposes OF the American note was t,
! prevent the depletion OF American com
, merce by the continuation of the Britisl
practices
The American note, they said. wa
framed with the very idea Of forcstallin
! the destruction of American trade
Figures cited in the British note, il
the view OF officials here. are misleadin
because Of contraband goods which ord
narily 20 direct to Germany and Austri
have really been shipped to neutral ooun
tries because Of the scarcity OF ships tina
f would dare risk passage through min
; waters.
Similarly. the desire Of Germany an
Austria to use an surplus production ha
Q deprived contiguous countries ot man
K raw materials which they are now con
c Ipcllcd to import from the United State,
such increases from the United State
! officials here say, would conceal the re.
!. injury to some American industries h
+, cause OF the apparent growth in trad
e with individual comtIies
y Engand's statement that out of -
y ship, which proceeded from the Unite
o States to neutral countries in Euol
since the outbreak OF the war only 4
y had had cargocS placed in the prize court
= while only eight ships themselves In
gotten into court was regarded by of
cials a- proving that the bulk Of Amer
can commerce WAS of a legitimate chara
t. ter and had yielded only IL doubtf
cases.
There is mention in the British note
Afit Adi ~ uNillbtl' bl NliltiAAd4A ~il
~ which were detained for extended exar
L nation.
In the next communication which Il
in United States will send to England, as
reioinder to the British, the view tn
ships must be taken into port for exal
ination instead of being searched on t
20 high seas is expected to be vigorously d
Y puted.
~ There is some doubt among ofTici;
=. whether the practice Of the British fie,
IA practically blockading the high seas
H. stead Of the German ports themselves.
ie- not contrary to the fundamental prin
pies OF blockade 1t l. not unlikely
!" ~ fore Americas reply is finally sent |
.as state department viii give ont statist
nd showing when and where American Ii
di- have been detained
lie
teS