Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-28
SECRETARY BRYAN IN LONG
REPLY SETS FORTH DUT.
les OF UNITED STATES.
DEFEND NATIONS ATTITUDE
Bryan Says It Is Up to Germany
to Look 4 After Shipments
Consigned There. Il

COlllulIllcc Z VII AOlCl6A A~I0tAoAo, a.
ranged to incorporate in the records
Of the senate the long reply, which
he received from Secretary Bryan de
tending the. Washington governments
int: probation of its right and duties
as a neutral in The present war.
r.. Answer to Charges" :'"i
The letter from the secretary OF
state prepared after consultation with
President Wilson, Counsellor Lans'
ing and the legal officers of the gov
eminent, constituted the administra'
tons answer to those who have
been charging il numerous letters to
the state department as we'll as in
the press and public speeches that
the American governments neutral
ity disseminated against Germany
and Austria. s&E'
Secretary Bryan summarized popu.
lar miscoaception on this point and
explained that the superiority thus
far of the British naval power had in
reality been responsible for the ina.
bility Of Germany and Austria. to fare
as we'll as their opponents in matters
of ammunition, and co1traband.
Keep Hands OF. -
ut is the business" he wrote, "of
a belligerent operating on the high
seas, not the duty Of a neutral, to
prevent %contraband from reaching an
enemy. These in this country who
sympathize with Germany and Aus.
tria-Hungary appear to assume that
some obligation rests upon this gov:
eminent in the performance of it's
neutral duty. to prevent all trade in
contraba1d and thus to equalize the
difference due to the relative naval
strength Of the b~elliserents, No such
obligation exists; it would be a n un-
neutral act, an act Of partially on
the part of this government to adopt
such a policy, if the executive had
the power to do so. If Germany aac
Austria cannot import contrsl)and
frcm this country, it is not because
of this fact, the duty Of the United
| States to close its markets to the
Allies. The markets of this country
are open upon equal terms to all the
world, to every nation, belligerent or
neutral"
While the letter was devoted larse,
ly to. answering criticism, it revealed
many features of the administration:
policies hitherto unexplained.
Favors Sending War Supplies. i.
The Washington government has
now announced itself as emphatically
opposed to legislation prohibiting the
expert Of munitions Of war. Other
than the belief that the, passage OF
such legislation would be an unneu.
tral, act il passed during the progress
Of a. war, high officials here contend
that such a law even after the. cen.
clusion Of the present conflict would
IN reality foster, the growth of mill
tarism. They point out that WeaS
nations which might have depende1
in emergency on purchasing war sup
plies. from the United States, would
be. compelled TO- keep their armies
constantly on a war footing in re
spect ,tc supplies, involving tremen'
dous expenditures. >
H. Leave Passengers Alone.
The letter: reveals also that the
United States has taken the position
that it cannot permit belligerent yes
sells to remove from American ships
on the high seas any passengers. even
though they he Germans, Or Aus
TRANS, nor. can promises be ~exacteC
from them not to participate in the
war. Such a protest has been sent
to france as a result of the search
by a boarding party from the French
cruiser Condo of an American ship
plying between two ports in Colon.
bia. %&E%
|. Deny and Demand.
Officials explained today that the
request of the Canadian government.
for permission to transport "war
equipment"' across Alaska. which had
been refused as disclosed in Secre.
tary Bryan's letter. referred to a ship
nient of guns and ammunition fror.
Northern Canada. The Canadian All.
thorities wished to bring the guns IT,
Vancouver by sea. involving a :iour
nev through a small, strip Of Alaskan
tear:rdidtorY. but the. Washington govern
nlert denied tbs reqeust. :
The fact that both Japan and Great
E,ritain had been asked to remove
their warships from proximity to
Honolulu and New York r%esnectiv,
" and that they acceded to the re.
quests, attracted wide attention here
in view of the possibility that such
requests might be repeated because
Of reports that belligerent, shins again
We're lowering close to the American
coasts. 49, {
~, A. to Loans. g
The. Washington governments rro.
r~orrcement in Secretary Bryan's let.
Ter On the question of loans was re-
"''eived with much interest hecpuse Ct
the many constructions which haf
'heen~ rlaced IN the administrations
r~csscssion. The letter states TIA. So
far as, the state department is adj
vised no war Joans have hoe, made
~ fc"e'en governments since Presi.
dCr+ Wilson cnncnnced his disen.
proval. Of snc,ti t~orsactiore. The
"nrchssea supplies through the es.
+ab)ishms't of credits are REGARDED
Nv Secretary Prvan as purely com-
merctal transactions and not objcc-
+ionahle. Greo+ rtritain.. Erarce and
"'ss'a are understood IN have estab-
lish"3 mc1v million dollars, worth o.
credits for Wv supplies. with tmeri-
can firms. THIS form Of trade Il not
objected to- BY the state department