Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-11
American Arrument. sldetraeled.

!. American Arguments sIdetraeked.
Officials are keenly appreciative
OF the friendly tone Of the British
note and Of the promises II makes
| for redress IN case of unwarranted
injury to American commerce. They
point out, however, that the note IN
It's citation OF statistics had not taken
up one OF the chief points OF the
American argument. The British
statistics were brought forward to
argue that American commerce with
neutral countries had not suffered as
! seriously as had been represented,
! but administration officials hers con-
tend that one Of the chief purposes OF
| the American protest was TO prevent
> depletion of American commerce by
: continuation OF British practices. The
American note. they said. wRa framed
with the very idea OF forestalling de-
I strnctton of American trade.
1 Figures cited in the British note, n
the view Of officials here, are mis-
! leading, because much OF the nom
{ contraband goods which ordinarily 60
! direct 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 TO German ports. SINH
larly, the desire of Germany and AUS
tria to use all surplus production has
/ deprived contiguous countries OF
many raw materials, which they are
now compelled to import from the
United States. Such INCREASES II
! total exports from the United States,
! officials here say, would conceal the
real injury to some American indus
, tries, because of their apparent
growth in trade with individual
countries.
Detained Ships Not Mentioned.
Englands statement that out os
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 courts. was regarded by
officials and diplomats here as prov
( ing that the bulk of American COM
merce was of a legitimate character
and had yielded only forty-five
! doubtful cases. There is no men,
ton made in the British note, on tie
other hand, of the large number q
! American ships which were de-
tanned, some of them for two weeks.
| for extended examination.
/ In the next communication wlics
!
/ land as a rejoinder, the British view
| for examination instead of being
! searched on the high seas. is ex
/ pected 10 be vigorously disputed.
! There is some doubt, not infrequent-
| ly expressed here among officials. =
I whether the practice of the British
/ fleet practically blockading the higs
seas instead Of German ports them.
J selves, is not contrary to the ful6a-
mental principles Of a blockade.
Z. S. to Give Out Statistics.
! It Is not unlikely that before lie
American reply is finally sent. the
state department viii give out statis-
/ tics showing when and where Ameri-
( can ships have been detained.
It is admitted at the state depart
ment that the action of some AmerE-
/ can exporters anu ShApHndSltIS Hts
placed the British in possession Of =
strong argument in favor of its
present position. But with the reeenS
arrangements for having outgoing
cargoes loaded under the inspection
| of treasury officials and with the sys
TEN of licenses which the British
note states has been arranged to In
sure rubber and perhaps wool ex
. ported from America from reaching
I Germany and Austria, officials are IN
clined to believe that the way sooH
will be open for a completely salts
factory understanding between ths
two governments in regard to the
treatment OF neutral shipping, ard
they are encouraged in that belief hy
the frank and responsive tone Of the
British note.
The British embassy today issued s
statement denying that 1t is inte
fering with shipments for Switzel
land.
ut is understood that certain
American and Italian shippers afe
refusing to carry goods consigned il1
the name of Swiss firms and that
this refusal has beeen attributed -
some quarters to some Suggestion
or action on the part OF British at-
thorities, the embassy observed
There is no foundation whatever
for the latter statement. The Brit
ish government is, on the contrary.
most anxious that no restrictions
whatever should be placed in tla<
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