The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-12
BERNSToRFF CRITIcIZES.
German Ambassador Adds His Word To
Imperial Governments.

Washington. ID. C., April l2.-Count
Won Bernstorif. the German ambassador,
made public last night the text OF the
note he recently presented to the state
department declaring that "if the Amer
can people desire TO observe true Deu-
trality they will find means TO stop the
exclusive expectation of arms 70 one side
o. at least to use this export trade as a
means TO uphold the legitimate trade
with Germany, especially the trade in
foodstuffs."
The memorandum was prepared at the
German embassy and while il does not
call for n reply the state department
already has drafted one which will be
delivered within the next few days.
The ambassador in his complaint in.
forms the United States that contrary
to the real spirit of neutrality an enor.
nous new industry of war material of
every kind IL being built in this country
and that this is supplying only Ger
many's enemies, a fact which is in no
way modified by the purely theoretical
willingness TO furnish Germany as well
ii ii were possible"
Among other things, the memorandum
says;
'The different British orders in council
have altered universally recognized rules
of international Law In such a one-sided
manner that they arbitrarily suppress
the trade Of neutral countries with Ger
many. Already prior to the last order
in council the shipment Of conditional
contraband, especially foodstufs, 10.
Germany was practically impossible. In
fact, prior TO the protest which the
American government made In London
on Dec. %, 1914, not a single shipment
of such goods for Germany has been ex-
ported from the United States.
ALSO after the lodging of the protest
and as far as is known TO the German
embassy only one shipment has been at
tempted by an American skipper. Ship
and cargo were Immediately seized by
the British and are still detained At a
British port. As preteNt for this un-
warranted action. the British govern
ment referred 10 q decree Of the German
federal council concerning the wheat
trade, although this decree only covered
wheat and -four and no other foodstufis,
although imported foodstuffs were cspe-
cially exempt from this decree and al.
though the German government had Civ
IN all necessary guarantees 20 the Unit
ed States government and had even pro- /
posed a special legislation in order 70
secure these foodstufTs for the exclusive
Of the civilian population.
"The seizure of an American ship under /
these circumstances was in contradiction
with the recognized principles of inter 1
national Law. Nevertheless. the United /
states government has not vi obtained /
the release Of the ship. nor hss Il after
eight months ~ war sueeeeded in safe
guarding the legitimate Ameican trade
with Germany. sud- = delay. especially
when the supply IF fsodsiufs - con
cerned. seems equifslsHt 10 cssnrlsts
failure. u u. therefore. 20 ~ assumed
hat the United states government has
zrceTted Enrlands tiolations Of fnterna-
iioral lau
aFurtherrnars. must b. considered the
tttu5e q the government uf the init
a State concerning the questiun II the
sxrlurfafiun II var matefiaL TlIe frl-
frisl embassy hulsss - H1rer urth tile
sorerurnert ~ the Tnfed Stnfss ~ an-
tuning that uith regard ~ the question
4 usutrslity there i not unir IN far-
nal sids - b. oousidered. it-t slso the
sirf in utich nrutrality - enforced
IF the Arnsrirsn rerIls desire a. fi-
Isrss true uHttrsitT theT wil frd
nesus a. stop the eEflnsire srfs1-rnti8n :
4 arms to uue sidH ~ - lenst - nas !
his expert trHde - . nlHnrs to urhsls
hs laEs, irrlHtE tT~ae With f-rrrnxtv. ssFu- !
as1lv fhs trHas 30 faslssuTs- Tllis srls-- ]
! a urttrnltr shaald srraar tis rnsre
~ I'D g. the Tfztsd ~tstas ~ it has
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