The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-11
U. S. Officials Not AL
toget h er Satisfied
w it h wer to
American Protest
NOTE COUCHED IN
FRIENDLY TONE
But Long Diplomatic Correspondence
Conceding Principles of American
Case Will Not Meet Complaints of
Exports and Shippers
By Associated Press.

]
day, is not altogether satisfied with the
note of Sir Edward Grey giving Great
Britain's preliminary reply to Presi-
dent Wilson s protest concerning the
treatment of American commerce by the
French fleet.
While gratified that Gerat Britain
admits the justice of practically all the
principles of international law citef
in the American note, officials reiterated
to-day that the chief difficulty had
been England's neglect to make her
actual practice square with the pre-
viousy accepted rules of international
law.
1t is realized by officials here that
a long diplomatic correspondence con-
eeding the principles of the American
ease but not actually carrying them into
practice will not meet the complaints of
American exporters and shippers and
although England s, supplementary an
swer is expected to give a more detail
ed statement of her position, officials
plan to take up vigorously all individ-
ual cases which may meanwhile arise.
Friendly Tone of British Note
Officials are keenly appreciative of
the friendly tone of the British note
and of the promises it makes for re-
dress III ease of unwarranted injury to
American commerce. They point out,
however, that the note in its 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 American com
merce with neutral countries had not
suffered as seriously as had been repre.
sented, 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 de-
struction of American trade.
Figures Cited Misleading
Figures cited in the British note. in
the view of officials here, are mislead-
ing because much of the non.contraband
goods which ordinarily 90 direct to Ger
many and Austria has really been
shipped to neutral countries because of
the scarcity OF ships that would dare
risk passage through mine fields of Ger
man ports.
lHI uCsiIt VI ptTnldnN ana
Austria to us all surplus production has
deprived contiguous countries of many
raw materials, which they now are COM
PEELED 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.
OBTAINING of Many American Ships
England S statement that out of 713
ships which proceeded from the United
States to neutral countries in Europe
since the outbreak of the war. only 45
had had cargoes placed in the prize
courts. while only of the ships them
selves had gotten into the courts was
regarded by officials and diplomats here
as proving that the bulk of American
commerce was of legitimate character
and had Yielded only ) 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
a reioinder the British view that ships
must be taken into ports for examina-
tiOn instead of being searched on the
high seas is expected to be vigorously
disputed. There is some doubt, not in
frequently expressed here among Off
cials, of whether the practice of the
British fleet practically blockading the
high seas instead of German ports them
selves is not contrary to the funda
mental principles of the law.
Inspection of Cargoes
1t is not unlikely that when the
American reply is finally sent, the State
Department will give out statistics
showing when and where American
ships have been detained. 1t is admit
ted at the State Department that the
action of some American exporters and
ship masters has placed the British in
possession of a strong argument in fa-
vor of its present position. But with
the recent arrangements for having out
going cargoes loaded under the inspec-
tion 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 Germany and
Austria. officials are inclined to be
lieVe that the way soon will be open
for complete satisfactory understand
ing between the two governments in
regard to the treatment of neutral ship
ping, and they are encouraged in that
belief by the frank and responsive tone
of the British note.