New Britain herald., 1915-01-11

washington, Jan. 11.-1ne OH1Ieu StaSss government, it became known is not altogether satisfied with the note of Sir Edward Grey giving Great Britain's preliminary reply to President Wilson's protest concerning the treatment of American commerc9 oy the British fleet.
 While gratifed hat Great Britain admits tfe justice Of practically all ,L4 principles of international law cited In the American note, officials reiterated today that the chief diffic!ll- tyss 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 long diplom atic correspondence con- ceding the principles of the Am erican case but not actually carrying then into practice will not meet the com pl6dnts of American exporters and shippers, and although Englands sup Elementary answer IS expected to give a more detailed statement of her po- sition, officials plan to take up vigor- ously all individual cases which may III meanwhile arise.
 Only Forty-fve Doubtful Cases.
 England's statement that out of 773 ships which proceeded from the Unit "~ed States to neutral countries in Eu- rope since the outbreak of the war only forty-f1ve had had cargoes placed in the prize courts, while only eight of the ships themselves had gotten into the courts, was regarded by of fcials and diplomats here as proving that the bulk of the American com merce was of a legitimate character and had yielded only forty-five doubt full 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 ex- animation.
 In the next communication which the United States will send to En gland as a rejoinder tho British view that ships must be taken into ports for examination instead of being searched on the high seas is expect cd to be vigorously disputed. There is some doubt, not infrequently OK pressed here among officials, of whether the practice of the British fleet practically blockading the high seses instead of the German ports themselves is not contrary to the fun damental principle of a blockade.
 Will Give Out Statistics.
 It is not unlikely that before the American reply is finally sent the state department will 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 Amer1- can exporters and ship masters has
 of strong argument in favor of it's pres ent position. But with the recent ar engagements 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 rubber and perhaps wool exported from America from reaching Ger many and Austria officials are in clined to believe that the way soon will be open for a completely satls- factory understanding between the two governments in regard to the trea tment of neutral shipping and they are encouraged in that be- lief by the frank and responsive tone Jf the British note.
 Points of England's Reply.
 Briefly the British note, while conceding the principles of the American governm ent's contentious, points out difficulties in actual prac- tiSe, refers to alleged fraudulent practices by shippers, and cites sta tistics showing an increase rather than a decrease in certain neutral commerce, in support of Great Brit aims suspicious that Germany and Austria have been indirectly obtain Ing contraband through neutral countries. The note promises, how ever, that Great Britain will mako redress whenever the action of the British fleet "nay unintentionally ex- ceed" the limits of international law.