Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-12
BR|TA|N'S REPLY
UNsAT|SF FACT0RY
Makes No Guarantees as to
the Future Treatment
of American Ships
FIGURES CITED BY
GRAY MISLEADING
Business With Neutrals Has
Not Grown as Claimed
By English Lord

Washington, D. c., Jan. 1.-THE
United States government, it became
known today, is not altogether salts
fled with the note of Sir Edward Grey.
giving Great Britain's preliminary re-
ply to President Wilson's protest con-
corning the treatment of American
commerce by the British fleet.
While gratified that Great Britain
admits the justice of practically all
the principles of International law
cited in the American note, officials
reiterated today that the chief diff
Guilty, had been England's neglect to
make her actual practice square with
the previously accepted rules of in
+ ternatiOnal law.
F 1t is realized by officials here that
long diplomatic correspondence con-
ceding the principles of the case,
but not actually carrying them into
practice, will not meet the complaints
of American exports and shippers, and
although England's supplementary
answer is expected to give a more de-
tailed statement of her position,
officials plan to take up vigorously all
individual cases which may meanwhile
arise
FriendIIness Appreciated.
Officials are keenly appreciative of
the friendly tone Of the British note
and of the promises it makes for re-
dress 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 argu-
ment The British statistics were
brought forward to argue that Amer
lean 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 protest
was to prevent depletion of American
commerce by continuation of British
practices. The American note, they
said, was framed with the very idea
of forestalling destruction of American
trade.
Figures cited in the British note,
in the view of officials here, are mis-
leading because much of the nom
contraband goods which ordinarily go
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. Similarly,
the desire of Germany and Austria to
use all surplus production has de-
prived contiguous countries of many
raw materials which they now are COM
PEELED to import from the United
States.
Injury is Concealed.
Such increases in total exports from
the United States, officials here say
would conceal the real injury to some
American industries because Of their
apparent growth in trade with indi-
vidual 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 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 on the other hand, of the large
number of American ships which were
detained, some of them for two weeks,
for extended examination.
In the next communication which
the United States will send to England
as. rejoinder. the British view that
ships must be taken into ports for ex-
animation, instead of being searched
on the high SEAS is expected to be
vigorously disputed. There is some
doubt, not infrequently expressed here
among officials, of whether the practice
Of the British fleet practically blockad-
ing the high seas instead of German
ports themselves is not contrary to
the fundamental principles Of a block
ade.
To Supply Figures.
IT is unlikely that before the Amer
lean reply is finally sent, the state
department will give out statistics
showing when and where American
ships have been detained.
It is admitted at the state depart
ment that the action of some Amer
lean exporters and ship masters has
placed the British IN possession of a
strong argument in favor of it's pres.
ent position. But with the recent ar
4 rangements for having outgoing car
goes loaded under the inspection OF
treasury officials and with the system
Of licenses which the British note
states has been arranged to insure
(C---.nued on page 81
4, Is d 4 Il T.