The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-25
OF RIGHTS OF NEUIRALS
 STRONGLY LYDEFENDED. BY UNITED STATES
Wilson and Bryan Issue a Long Statement Outlining. Trade Condition as Result of War and Pronounce Policy on Question of Neutrality

Washington. January 2t-rhc Uni- ted states government today issued n lengthy defense Of It's interpretation of the rights md duties of n neutral in the European war.
 A document. 5000 words long. pre- pared by President Wilson, Secretary Bryan and CounsclIor Robert Lansing of the state department. after several days of consuItstion. was made pub lie in the form Of n letter from the Secretary of state to senator Stone of Missouri. chairman of the Senate com mittee on foreign relations.
 While the letter is a reply to an in- tion as result of complaints made in the press and in letters from various parts of the country charging the Washington government with unfair ness to Germany and Austria. 1t also is intended as a pronouncement of pol icy on some questions of neutrality previously uncNplalieu.
 After answering 19 separate and spe- cific charges and calling attention to the fact that the United States has promptly taken to task Great Britain as well as Germany and every govern ment which in any way has infringed upon the rights of this coutnry, the letter concludes with the following deelarato ion on the much discussed aues- ton of exportation of war munitions:
 Cause of Feeling
 If any American citizens. partsans of Germany and Austria Hungary, feel that this administration is acting in Il way injurious to the cause of those countries this feeling results from the fact that on the high seas the German and Austro- Hungarian naval power is thus far inferior to the Britiah. 1t Is the business of Il belligerent operat- ing on the high seas not the duty O. n neutral, to prevent oontraband from reaching an enemy. Those In this eouns try who sympatnize with Germany and Austria Hungary appear to assume that some obligation rests upon this government, in the performance Of it's neutral duty, to prevent all trade in contraband, and thus to equalze the difference due to the relative naval strength of the belligerents. No such Litigation exists it would be an un- neutral act an act or partiality on the part of this government. to adopt such a policy. if the executive had the power to do so.
 If Germany and Austria Hungary cannot import contraband from this country ii is not. because of this fact, the duty of the United States to close its markets to the allies. The markets of this country arc open upon equal terms to all the world. to every na- tion. belieerent or neutral.
 During the course of the letters dis cussion of the various charges made, the following facts hitherto undisciosed were revealed for the first time.
 That the Canadian government re- gently asked the United States for per mission to ship war equipment' across Alaska to the sea and the request was refused
 That the United States has brought to the attention of an offending gov ernment' the searching of an American vessel for German and Austrian aub- jects. with Il declaration that such procedure, if true, is an unwarranted exercise of jurisdiction over American vessels in which the government will not aequiesce.'
 The government to whom this dec declaration has been made is not stated in the letter but the incident is Known to relate to the search by boarding crew from a French cruiser of all American ship plying between two ports in Columbia, when 1t Is alleged some German passengers Were forced to sign a promise not to participate in the war. It was this occurrence which led to q warning speech by Senator Stone to the belligerents against such searches of American ships.
 That sharp representations also We're made to another of the allied govern ments because search was conducted on the high seas on an American ship for German and Austrian passeng gers. The name of the vessel or offending government was not revealed.
 That on December 15, last. the Ger man ambassador by direction Of his
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