The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-11
ENCLA LAND'S NOTE DOESN'T PLEASE
 OFFICIALS HERE Diplomats at Washington Not Satisfied With Earl
 Grey's Reply INTERNATIONAL LAW BROKEN. THEY ASSERT Say England Doesn't Garry Out Principles That Are Agreed Upon

A51OSO - COA
 Washington, Jan. 11The United States government. 1t became known today, is not altogether satisfied with the note of Sir Edward Grey, ply to President Wilson's protest concerning. the treatment of Ameri- can commerce by the British fleet.
 While gratified that Great Britain admits the Justice Of practically, all the principles of international law cited in the 5Anerican note, officials reiterated today that the chief diff ficu1ty had been England's neglect to make her actual practice square with the previously accepted rules of in- ternationaI law.
 It is realized by officials here that a long diplomatic correspondence concerning the principles of the American case but not actually carry ing them into practice will not meet the complaints of American export CTS and shippers, and although Eng lands supplementary answer is ex- pected to give a more detailed state ment of her position, officials plan to take up vigorously all individual cases which may meanwhile arise. 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 
 1 out, however that the note in it's citation of statistics had not taken up one of the chief points of the l American argument. The British l statistics were brought forward to argue that American commerce with neutral countries had not suffered as seriously as had been represented, but administration officials here contend i that one of the chief purposes of the
 American protest was to prevent de-. | o1<Afr<1 continuation of British practices.
 The American note, they say, was 1 framed with the very idea. of fore 1 stalling destruction of American 1 trade.
 l Figures cited in the British note
 in the view of officials here. are mis- leading because much of the non l contraband goods which ordinarily go direct to Germany and Austria has really been shipped to neutral coun- tries because of the scarcity of ships l that would dare risk passage through mine fields to German ports. Sim ilar1y. the desire of Germany and Austria to use all surplus production 1 has deprived contiguous countries of many raw materials which they now are compelled. ito import from the United States. Such increases in to- l tai exports from the United States of fcia1s here say, would conceal the real injury to some American indus I 1 growth in trade with individual coun- l tries
 EngIand's statement that out of 773 ships which proceeded from the United States to neutral countries in l Europe since the outbreak of the war | only 45 had cargoes placed in the l prize courts, while only eight of the ships themselves had gotten into the 1 courts, was regarded by officials and l diplomats here as proving that the ] bulk of American commerce was of a 1 legitimate character and had yielded l only 45 doubtful cases. There is no | mention made in the British note, on I the other hand, of the large number I of American ships which were detain-6 led, some of them for two weeks; for extended examination.
 In the next communication which I the United States vi1Iesend to Eng land as a rejoinder. the British view that ships must be taken into ports i for examination instead of being
 searched on the high seas is expeckz ed to be vigorously disputed. There
 is some doubt not infreqtlently ex- < | pressed here among ofTicia1s Of
 whether the practice of the British fleet practically lblockading the high
 seas instead of the German ports | themselves is not contrary to the l fundamental principle of a blockade I It is not unlikely that before the Il American reply is finally sent to the
 State department will give out sta
 tistics showing when and where
 American ships have been detained. l It is admitted at the state depart I ment that the action of some Ameri-
 can exporters and sFipmasters has l placed the British in possession of a
 strong argument in favor of it's pres
 ent position But with the recent ar
 arrangements for having outgoing car
 goes loaded under the inspection of
 treasury officials and with the sys-
 tenn of licenses which the British note | states has been arranged to insure
 rubber and perhaps wool exported
 from America from reaching Ger
 many and Austria officials are inclin- ! ed to believe that the way soon will
 be open for a completely satisfactory
 understanding between the two gov II ernments in regard to the treatment
 of neutral shipping and they are en-
 couraged in that belief by the frank
 and responsive tone of the British I nOte.