Evening star., 1915-01-25
Attitude of the United States
Toward European BeIIig-
erents Defended.
POLICY IS ANNOUNCED
BY THE ADMINISTRATION
Secretary Bryan Sends Letter to SEN
ator Stone Answering Complaints
Published in Newspapers.

\ defense OF its Interpretation OF the
rights and duties of a neutral nation
during the European war has been
made public by the administration. 1t
was contained in letter sent by Sec
retary Bryan to Senator Stone, chair
man Of the foreign relations committee
Of the Senate. This letter, which was
prepared by President Wilson, Score
tary Bryan and Robert Lansing.
councillor Of the STATE Department, was
5000 words long.
The ietter, in addition 70 being . de-
fense Of the attitude assumed BY the
government, Is also . pronouncement
of policy on some questions OF neutral
ity not hitherto explained. It Is . FORM
al reply to an inquiry from Sena-
tor Stone for information as result
of complaints made In the newspapers
and in letters from various parts Of the
contry charging the government with
unfairness to Germany and Austria.
Expectation Of War Munitions.
After calling attention to the fact
that the United States government has
not hesitated to take to task any ma
ton which has infrfnged upon the
rights Of this country as q neutral, the
letter makes the following declaration
on the much discussed question OF the
exportation of war munitions:
III any American citizens. partisans
of Germany and Austria-Hungary feel
that this administration Is acting IN q
way Injurious to th6 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 British. II Is
the business of a bell1gerent operating
on the high seas, not the duty OF
neutral. to prevent contraband from
reaching an enemy. Those in this coun-
try who sympathize with Germany ana
Austria-H Hungary appear to assume
government. in the performance OF its
neutral duty, to prevent all trade IN
contraband. and thus to equalize the
difference due to the relative naval
strength Of the belligerents: NO sucn
obligation exists; 1t would be an un-
neutral act, an act of partiality on the
part of the government, to adopt such
a policy, If the executive had the power
10 do so.
cannot import contraband from 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
tion, belligerent or neutral
Disclosures Made.
During the course of the letters dis
cussion of the various charges made
the following facts hitherto undis-
closed were revealed for the drst 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.
TO the attention of an Offending gov
ernment" the searching OF an Amer
ican vessel for German and Austrian
subjects, with a declaration that such
exercise Of Jurisdiction over American
vessels, in which this government Will
not acauiesce" The government to
whom this declaration has been made
cident is known to relate to the search
Ly a boarding crew from French
cruiser of an American chip plying
between two ports in Colombia. when
were forced to sign a promise not to
participate in the war. II was TINS
occurrence which led to a warning
speech by Senator Stone to the beilig-
erents against such searches OF Amer
lean ships.
That sharp representations also were
made to another OF the allied govern
ments because search was conducted on
the high seas on an American ship for
German and Austrian passengers. The
name of the vessel or offending gov
ernment was not revealed.
That December Is last the German
ambassador by direction of his govern
ment delivered a memorandum to the
United States government stating that
under the general principles of in
ternational law no exception can be
taken to neutral states letting war
material go to Germany's enemies from
or through neutral territory"
That representations were made to
both Japan and Great Britain against
the continued presence of their war
ships Off American ports ana that the
protests were in each case needed.
That since the announcement Of the
Washington governments dtsapproval
of war loans none has been made by
A distinction Is drawn officially. for the
first time between loans foated by
popular subscription and large credit
transactions for the purchase of war
supplies. the State Department reveal
ing that it has no objection to the
latter
In a general way. the letter sets forth
that rules of neutrality have been pro-
mulgated by the American government
without discrimination and have been
applied with equal fairness to all con
cerned. II cites instances of violations
by Germany and Great Britain and as
serts that protests have been unhesi-
tatingly entered regardless of the
country offending.
Answer to Complaints.
Complaints as summarized by Sena-
tor Stone are answered In the letter