Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-06-12

president Oh Illc OlllIcu pldlcS'
Bryans Statement.
Mr.. Bryan's statement follows:
June II, 1915.
ITO the German Americans: Per
nit me to address a word to you as
one American citizen speaking to fel-
low citizens in whose patriotism ne
has entire confidence. 1t Is natural
that I'm a contest between your Ialh-
erland and other European nations
your sympathies should be with the
country of your bith. 1t Is no cause
for censure that this is true; tt would
he a reflection upon you II 1t were
not true. The trouble is that the eX-
tremists on both sides have mistaken
a natural attachment felt for birth
place for disloyalty to this country
The president has been unjustly
criticised by the partisans OF p0th
sides-the very best evidence of ms
neutrality If he had so conducted the
Government as to wholly please either
side it would excite not only astonish-
ment but misgivings, for parusans
cannot give an unbiased judgment
WHY Germans Kick.
"The fact that the administration
has received more criticism from
in sympathy with the allies is due to
the fact that while both sides are at
liberty. under international law to
purchase ammunition in the United
States. the allies because Of their con
troll of the seas have the advantage OF
being able to export 1t. 1t is untor-
tunate that partisan supporters OF
Germany should have overlooked the
legal requirements Of the situation
and thus have misunderstood the
position of the dministration. The
administration position has not only
been perfectly neutral but 1t could
not have been otherwise without
palpable and intentional violation OF
the rules governing neutrality. rms
government is not at liberty to change
materially the rules of International
law during the war because every
change suggested is discussed, not
upon It's merits as an abstract propo-
sition, but according to the effect 1T
will have upon the contest. Those
who wanted to lay an embargo upon
the shipments of arms defended their
position on the ground that it would
hasten peace but it Is strange that
they could have overlooked the fact
that the only way in which such
action on our part could hasten peace
would have been by helping one side
to overcome the other.
Would Fight for Us.
"Whle the attacks made upon the
president by the extremists Of both
sides were very unjust, 1t was equally
unjust to suspect the patriotism Of
those who took sides ] feel well
enough acquainted with the Euro
pean-born Americans to believe that
in a war between this country and
any European power, the naturallzed
citizens from that country would be
as quick to enlist as native-born citi-
zens. As I am now speaking to Ger
man Americans l am glad to repeat
IN public what / have often said IN
private and would have said in public
before but for the fact that II would
not have been proper for one in my
official position to do so-namely that
in case of war between the United
states and Germany-if so improb-
able a supposition can be considered
--German-Ame would be as
prompt to enlist and as faithful to
the flag as any other portion Of our
people. What l have said In regard
to the German Americans is an intro
duction to all appeal which | feel 1t
my duty to make to them.
Wilson Hopes for Peace.
'ElrSt-lf any or them nave ever
in q moment of passion or excitement
suspected the president of lack of
neutrality or lack of friendship to-
ward the German government and the
German people, let that thought be
forgotten never again to be recalled.
| have since my resignation received
numerous kilograms from German
Americans and German-American so
cieties commencing my action. |
thinl, the senders of these kilograms
understand my position, but that no
one may mistake it, let me re-state
II. The president i5 not only de-
sirous of peace, but he hopes for 1t
and he has adopted the methods
which he thinks most likely to con-
tribute toward peace. My difference
from him is as 20 method, not as to
purpose, and my utterances since re-