New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-22
Ympugning Motives OF
American Government
Politely Referred To.
STRICT NEUTRALITY
ALWAYS OBSERVED
p,rrstorff Told He Has Referred
10 Subjects Hardly Appropri-
ate" for Him TO Discuss.

.-.+ that Ambassador Won Bernstorf
,,d employed language in the recent
memorandum TO the United States gov
.,ument regarding the shipment OF
,rns. which might be construed as i'm
,ro,lne the motives Of this govern
m,pt. the reply to-day handed TO the
G,rman Embassy fully and completely,
and. in the hope of the administration
tpslly disposes O. the question OF the
ethics Of the position Of the United
States in this respect.
There Is the suggestion Of rebuke
also IN the intimation that the en-
b.ssv memorandum failed TO scknowl-
,sse that the United States government
b.d made serious efforts TO obtain
Modification of the British Orders in
Council governing the foodstuffs situa-
Hon. This attempt, according to the
,ota. WAS unsuccessful. but regret is
sYnressed that the ambassador did not
deem it worthy Of mention in moditica-
ZION Of the Impressions set forth.
The note is couched in politest Eng
p.b. There is not a word which Is
.u,ceptible under direct Interpretation
=, be;ng construed as recognizing the
offensive character of the embassy
memorandum, but at the same time be-
4wesn the lines may be discerned re-
buke which it is believed will be taken
70 heart by the subjects Of the Kaiser
The phraseology of the nate shows
clearly its authorship. President Will
,on himself wrote the final draft on
his own typewriter. He did not die
tate il He wrote it alone in his study.
Reiterates American Policy.
The note reiterates the position Of
Ae American government, several
times explained before, with regard to
the duties and obligations Of the ma
ton as a neutral 1t insists that
throughout its dealings with the bel
Egsrent Governments Of Europe, be
they of the allied group or the leu
tonic alliance. the United States has
rot deviated from the policy Of strict
est neutrality and adherence to the
time horored code Of international
iurisprudence governing civilized ma
tions in time Of war.
The intimation conveyed in the Ger
man memorandum that recession
from the position Of the United states
that the shipment of arms TO GER
many's enemies was internationally le-
gal is c0mbatted with the statement
that "noue Of The circumstances urged
in your Excellency's memorandum al
ters the principle involved
There Is distinct note OF reouke IN
the second paragraph of the communl-
cation where the German Ambassador
is informed that there are other CIR
cumstaDces TO which you do refer
which would have supposed to be
hardly appropriate for discussion be-
tween the government of the United
States and the government OF Ger
many"
Text of the Note.
The text Of the note follows:
Excellence: 81 have given thought
ful consideration TO your excellency's
note Of April 4, 1915, inclosing mem
orandum Of the same date, In which
your excellency discusses the action OF
this gov, rnment with regard TO trade
between the United States and Ger
many, and the attitude Of this govern.
ment with regard 10 the expectation Of
arms from the United state to the
nations now al war with Germany.
81 must admit that ! am somewhat
st loss how 20 interpret your eX-
There are many circumstances connect
ed with these important subjects to
which ] would have expected your eX-
cellency 20 advert, but of which you
make no mention, and .here are other
circumstances 20 which you do refer
which | would have supposed to be
hardly approDriate for discussion be
tween the government of the United
States and sthe government OF Ger
many.
Discussion Declined.
81 shall take the liberty, therefore, Of
regarding your excellency's references
to the course pursued by the govern
ment Of the United States with regard
to interferences with trade from this
country such rs the government OF
Great Britain has attempted, as intend
ed merely 20 illustrate more fully the
situation 20 which you desire to call
our attention, and not as an invitation
70 discuss that course. Ecur cXcellen-
eys long experience in international
affairs will have suggested 10 you that
me relations OF two governments with
one another cannot wisely be made a
subject Of discussion with a third gov
eminent, which cannot be fully in
formed as TO the facts and which can
not be fully cognizant of the reasons
ior the course pursued.
believe. however, that ] am justi-
ned IN assuming that what you desire
70 call forth is a frank statement of the
position Of this government in regard
70 It's obligations as a neutral power.
me general attitude and course of pol
icy Of this government in the mainte-
nance Of its neutrality | am particular
anxious that your eXcellency should
see IN their true light. | had hoped
Ihat this governments position in these
respects had been made abundantly
eleSr, but | am, Of course, perfectly
wiling TO state it again.
L. S. Good Faith Impugned.
This seems to me the more neces-
eafy and desirable because, ! regret to
ray the language which your excel
sehey employs in your memorandum is
susceptible Of being construed as i'm
Sugnng the good faith of the United
oates in the performance of its duties
- neutral ] take it for granted that
az az such implication was intended, but
= Is so evident that your excellency
Soorlng under certain false impress
''ohs that ! cannot be too explicit in
a. Continued ON page 4, column