Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-25
SAYS 1T is NOT UP TO UNITED
STATES TO POLICE
HIGH SEAS.
DEFENSE OF ATTITUDE
HOWARD BELLlGERENT
Answer Made to Complaints That Ger
many and Austria Have Been Dis
eliminated Against and Allies Fa-
vored-Germany Comedies Right to
Sell to Warning Nations.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Jan. 24.-The United
States government today wired a
a lengthy defense Of its Interpretation
OF the rights of a neutral in the Euro
pean war.
A document, 5000 words long. pre-
pared by President Wilson. Secretary
Bryan and Counsellor Robert Lansing.
of the state department, after several
days Of consultation. was made pubic
in the form of letter from the sec
Missouri. chairman OF the senate
foreign relations.
While the letter is a reply to an in
quiry from Senator Stone for informa-
ton as a 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, ii also
is intended as a pronouncement Of
policy on some questions OF neutrality
previously unexplained.
Treat All Alike,
After answering nineteen separate
and specific charges and calling atten-
ton to the fact that the United States
has promptly taken TO task Great
Britain as well as Germany and every
government which in any way has in
fringed upon the rights of this coun-
try, the letter concludes with the fol-
lowing declaration on the much dis
cussed question OF expectation Of war
munitions:
IF any American citizen parttsans
yoot
that this administration is acting in
way injurious to the cause of those
countries, this feeling results from the
fact that on the high seas the German
and Austria Hungarian naval power is
.hus far inferior to the British. 1t is
The business of belIigerent 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 and
Austro- Hungary, appear to assume
that some obligation rests upon this
government, IN the performance of its
neutral duty, to prevent all trade in
contraband and thus 10 equalize the
difference due to the relative naval
strength Of the belligerents. No such
obligation exists; it would be an I'M
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 30.
Not Duty TO Close Markets.
IF Germany and Austria Hungary
can not import contraband from this
country, it is not because Of this fact,
he 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
Aation, belligerent or neutral"
During the course Of the letters DIS
ussion Of the various charges made.
the following facts hitherto und!sclosed
Tere revealed for the first time;
That the Canadian government re-
Gently asked the United States for
permission to ship war equipment"
across Alaska TO the sea and request
VAS refused
That the United States has sent a
vigorous protest 10 France because
some German passengers on an Ameri-
ran ship plying between two ports IN
Colombia were forced by a boarding
crew from French cruiser TO sign a
promise not 10 participate in the war.
This procedure in the American note TO
be IAN unwarranted exercise Of juris-
diction over American ships IN which
this government will not acquiesce."
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 passengers
The name Of the offending vessel or
offending government was not revealed
Germany Makes Admission.
That on Dec Is last, the German
ambassador by direction Of his govern
ment delivered a memorandum 20 the
rc--.4.--...l -. D.rn