Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-25

/ 80 '"N iiNA tlIlt NtlNetn loans
ioated by popular subscription and
large credit transactions for the pur-
chase Of war supplies, the state de-
partment realizing that il has no OBJ
lection to the latter.
In general way. the letter sets
iofth that rules Of neutrality have
peen promulgated by the American
government without discrimination
and have been applied with equal
Harness to all concerned. II cites in
tstances of violations by Germany and
Great Britain and asserts that pro-
tests have been unhesitatlngly entered
regardless Of the country offending.
Answer 10 Complaints.
Complaints rs summarized by SEN
ator stone, are answered in the let
ter. point hy point substantially as
follows.
I'D. Freedom Of communication
by submarine cables versus censored
communication by wireless" 1t isl
set forth first that wireless station
on a neutral coast cannot be inter
rupted by a belligerent. but the lat
ter has an unrestricted right to cut
cable on the high seas. Germanys
cutting Of the British cable near Fam
ming island Is cited TO balance Great
Brtain's interception of the cable be-
tween Germany and the United
States. The point is made that wire
less messages can be sent direct 70
warships at sea which can prey upon
private or public vessels and make
neutral territory virtually u base of
naval operations, TO permit which
would be essentially unneutral"
"(2). Censorship of mails and in
some eases repeated destruction of
American letters on neutral vessels
Germany and Great Britain pursuing
their rights as belligerents both have
censored private letters falling into
their hands. No evidence has ever
been presented to the state depart |
ment that mail on board Dutch !
steamers has been destroyed, as re-
peatedly charged. Only few cases have
come to the attention of the depart
ment where mail from neutral coun- |
tries has not been finally delivered.
"(3) Searching of American ves-
sells for German and Austrian SUBJ
jects oh the high seas and in terri /
torial waters Of belligerent." Neu-
trail vessels voluntarily entering ter
ritorial waters or ports of a helllger- |
ent become subject to municipal laws !
Only two cases in which American |
vessels have been searched on the |
high seas by belligerent warships for /
German and Austrian subjects have !
been reported, and both have been |
by vigorous representations !
10 the offending governments. Much |
confusion has arisen, the letter as
serts, over the charge that the Unit |
ed States has abandoned the princi- !
Pies for which this country went to
war in 1912 The impressment Of !
American seamen by the British navy
n times of peace, il is asserted, in
solves a different principle" from the
search for reservists in times of war.
hough the latter had not been per-
nitted without protest.
No General Agreement.
"N). Submission without protest to
British violations of the rules regard I
ng absolute and conditional contra
Iand as laid down in The Hague con-
'ention, the declarations of London
md international law" There is no
General agreement between nations as
o articles to be regarded as contra
,and, the rights of neutrals and bell
igerents being opposed and no tri-
'unal existing ito which questions OF
Inference may be submitted"
"(5). Acquiescence without pro-
est to the inclusion of copper and
ther articles in the British lists of
bsolute contraband." II is here stat
d that every seizure OF American
opper has been followed by a
ion of "unwrought copper" in the
st of absolute contraband is. under
onsideraton though the govern
1ent necessarily finds some embar-
assment in dealing with the subject
ecause of declaration by the
Inited States in the past, placing 'all
rticles from which ammunition is
ldHultCtuItu III It's toittdbduu ilSlt
copper among such ma
erials.
"(G). Submission without protest
} interference with American trade
} neutral countries in conditional
nd absolute contraband." History
hows, says the latter, that in every
ar the superior naval power has in
neutral commerce more or
'ss. but those who complain are re-
srred to the American note of pro-
sst of December 26, dispatched TO
reat Britain.
"1O. Submission without protest 10 ,
lterruption of trade in conditional
,ntraband consigned to private per-
ms in Germany and Austria, there- ,
y supporting the policy of Great
ritain to cut off all supplies from
ermany and Austria Again, the
tier calls attention TO the note Of !
ecember 26 to the British govern
ent contending 'for the principle Of I
eedom Of trade in articles of con-
itional contraband not destined to !
le belligerent forces"
Trade in Petroleum. G
"tS). Submission TO British inter-
renee with trade in petroleum, rub '
II, leather, wool, etc" AS petro- .
um can be used in propellng sub
arines and rubber is essential for |
g motors used by armies, the Unit {
States government "has not yet
ached the conclusion that they are q
lproperly included in list Of con- d
aband." n
"t9). The United states has not in [
rfered with the sale to Great Brit [
N and bar alice ,f arroo a,,onattni Z,