Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-02
BRYAN REPLIED
Continued From Page One)

Russia has also recently ordered q
number of hydro aeroplanes Of the X
model from Curtiss How many is not
yet known.
The motors for the aeroplanes are
built partly by Curtis himself at Harn-
rondsport, partly by the Herschel
Spillman Motor factory at North Ton
AMANDA, n. Y.
The wings are made at the Cur.
tiss plant. the minor parts by the Au.
tocraft Manufacturing Co.
The TonaWanda Boat Co, furnishes
the boat part.
There is no doubt that hydro aero
planes must be regarded as war YES
sells whose. delivery to belligerens
states by neutrals should be stopped
under article Of the 18th convention
OF the second Hague Conference Of
Oct. IS, 1907. Hydro-aeroplanes not
mentioned by name in the convention
simply because there was none in 1907
at the time Of the conference
ON the supposition that hydro-ae-
roplanes are delivered to belligerantA
against the wishes of government os
the United States. ! have the honor
to bring the foregoing to your excel
lency's kind knowledge.
Accept, Mr.. Secretary of State tha
renewed assurance of my most distin-
guished high consideration"
6ryan's Reply
Secretary Bryan's reply, dated Jan.
% follows:
i have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of Your Excellencys OF
the 18th inst and reply have to inform
you that the statements contained
have received my careful considera-
ton, in view Of the earnest purpose
Of this government to perform every
duty which is imposed upon it az q
neutral by treaty stipulation and in
ternational
The essential statement In your note,
which implies an obligation Of hydro.
aeroplanes to 'belligerent powers, is:
There is no doubt that hydro-aero-
planes must be regarded as war vessels
whose delivery to belligerent states by
neutrals should be stopped under Article
Of the 18th convention of the second
Hague conference of Oct. 10. 1867
las to this assertion Of the character
of hydro-aeroplanes, I submit the fol-
lowing comments: The fact that a hydro
aeroplane it fitted with apparatus to rise
from and alight upon sea does not in
my opinion, give 1t the character Of a
vessel any more than the wheels attach
ed to an aeroplare fitting It to rise from
and alight upon land give the latter tho
character Of a land vessel Both the
hvySr ~ h.
essentially air craft; as an aid in militia.
'ry operations they can only be used in
the air: tho fact that one starts its flight
from the surface Of the sea and the othea
from the land is a mere incident which
in no way affects their aerial character.
'In view Of these facts I must dissent
from Your Excellensy's assertion that
there is no doubt that hydro-aeroplanss
must be regarded as war vessels and
consequently I do not regard the obli-
cations imposed by treaty or by the &C
cepted rules of international law appli-
able to air craft of any sort
I'm this connection I further call to
Your Excellency's attention that, accord
ing to the latest advices received by this
department, the German imperial gov
eminent includes balloons and flying
machines and their component parts In
the list of conditional eontraband ana
that in the imperial prize ordnance,
drafted Sept. TO- 1910. and issued in the
Reichs Gesetzblatt on Aug. 8. 1914, appear
as conditional contraband 'airships and
flying machines.
'fArtiele %, Section s.. 1t thus appears
that the imperial government have placed
and still retain air craft Of all descrip-
tons in the class Of conditional contra.
band, for which no special treatment in.
volving neutral duties Is, SO far as I am
advised. provided by any treaty to which
the United States is signatory or ad-
herring power.
las in the views of this department
the provisions of Convention XIII Of tie
second Hague conference do not apply
to hydyaplanes. ] do not consider IL
necessary to discuss the question az 70
whether these publications are In forcs
during the present war.
Accept, Excellency. the renewed ar.
nurancea of my hirha~f c,tz;A.~~<1>~w