Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-01-11
j. S. GOVERNMENT IS
NOT SATISFIED WITH
REPLY OF BRITISH
Supplementary Note, However,
May Give More Detailed
Statement of Position
ENGLISH FIGURES MISLEADING
U. S. Will Oppose Plan to Take
American Ships Into Port
to Be Searched

Ey associated Press
Washington, d. &, Jan. Il. - The
United States fioNernment. it became
known to-day, is not altogether salts
tied with the note of Sir Edward Grey
giving Great Britain's preliminary re-
ply TO President Wilson's protest con-
CerninS the treatment OF American
commerce by the French fleet.
While gratitied that Great Britain
admits the justice OF practically
ali the principles OF International law
cited in the American note, officials
reiterated to-day tnat the chief dlGd-
Guilty had been England's neglect TO
make her actual praCuce square with
the previously accepted rules of in
tcrnatlonal law. 1t is realized by or
riCials here that a long diplomatic cor
reSpondence conceuing the principles
OF the American case, out not actually
carrying them into practice, VIII not
meet the complaints OF American eN-
porterS anu shippers, and alUhoug il
Enslands 5 supplementary answer IS
expected to give more detailed state
men OF her position. officials plan to
take up vigorously all individual cases
which may meanwhile arise.
Reply Is Friendly
Officials are keenly apprsciative OF
the friendly tone OF the British note
and OF the promises 1t makes Tor re-
dress in case OF unwarranted injury
10 American commerce. They point
out, however, that the note III It's c.
tation of statistics had not taken up
one Of the CHIEF points OF the Amer:-
can argument. The British statistics
weer brought forward TO argue that
American commerce with neutral
countries had not suffered as serious
y as had been represented but Au-
mtnistrauon officials here contend that
one OF the chief purposes OF the
American protest was 10 prevent de-
pletIon OF American commerce by
continuation OF British practices. The
PAmerican note, they saiu. was framed
with the very idea OF toresJailing ce-
struction of American trade.
Figures cited in the British note,
in the view OF officials here. are mis-
leading because much of the noncon-
traband 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 OF German posts Simi-
larly the desire of Germany ana Aus
tria to use all surplus production has
deprived contiguous countries of many
raw materials which they now are
compelled TO import from the United
States. 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
individual countries
10 Doubtful Cases
England'S statement that out of
ii3 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
ana diplomats here as proving that
the bulk of American commerce was
OF lllegltimate character and had
yielded only forty-tive doubtful cases.
There Is no mention made in the Brit
lsh 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 Eng
land as reJoinder, the British view
that ships must be taken into ports
for examination instead of being
searched on the high seas. is expected
20 be vigorously disputed. There IS
some doubt, not infrequently ex-
pressed here among officials of
whether the practice OF the British
feet practically blockading the high
seas instead OF German ports them
selves is not contrary 10 the funda-
mental principles of the law.