Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-08
ASKS BERNSTORFF
TO PROVE CHARGES
Bryan Says Manufacturers Deny
Exporting Dundum Bullets
for English Army.
WILSON WILL USE INFLUENCE
United States Must Refrain From
Officially Investigating or Com
menting Upon Protests.

WASHINGTON January Tn reply
TO Germany's complaint that American
manufacturers were exporting du:ndum
bullets and riot guns" for the British
army. Secretary Bryan to-day informed
Count BcrnstorT. the German arnbassa :
dor. that the manufacturers named had
denied the charges. and asked that the
State Department he furnished any
evidence the ambassador might have
to support his protest The secretary
added that he was directed by i'resi-
dent Wilson to say that If any .Ancri-
can company was shown to tie en-
gagged in such traffic he would use his
influence 10 stop II, regardless Of Tues-
tions Of legal or conventional duty.
As TO the German protests against
alleged use of dumdum bullets by the
allies in Europe, Mr.. Bryan said the
United states, to maintain strict ncu-
trality in the present conflict. was
Obliged to refrain from Investigating
their truthfulness or making any com
ment."
In a letter to Count Bernstorn. Sec
rctary Bryan referred to dcnials OF
American manufacturers TO his recent
charge that dumdum bullets and riot
guns were being furnished TO the al
lies. The letter follows:
II have the honor to acknowledge
tho receipt Of your note OF the 5th
ultimo, calling attention to fresh vio-
latons OF the Geneva convention, as
well as of section ., article 230 of the
Hague convention of July 30. 1898, by
the British government in the use OF
dumdum bullets.
II can assure Your Excellency that
am not uumindful of the spirit in
which you bring TO the attention OF
this government the improper prac-
tees which are alleged to have oc-
Cured in the conduct of the present
war. But while this government may
take these statements and charges
under consideration. it is. in its effort
TO maintain n strict neutrality in the
present conflict obliged TO refrain from
investigating their truthfulncss or
making any comment in regard to
them.
LATER TRUTH MAY RE
IMPtRTIALLY DETERMINED
The time Will come, however, when
the truth may be impartialIy deter
mined. and when the Judgment of the
world Will be passed upon tn. charges
made by the various bclligerents OF
violations of the rules of civilized war
fare
Your Excollcncy also states that tho
British government has ordered from
the Winchester Repeating Arms Com
pary 10000 riot guns model 1897,
and 3O,000.0O0 buck shot cartridces' for
use in such guns. This department
saw published statement OF the Win
chester Company. the correctness of
which the company has confirmed 10
the department by telegraph In this
statement the company categoricallv
denies that it has received an order
for such guns and cartridges from or
made any sale of such material TO. the
British government, or to any other
government engaged in the present
war.
Your EXccllcncy further calls attcn-
ton to Information. the accuracy OF
which is not TO he doubted that s. 900. :
600 CARTRIDGES fitted with mushroom
bullets, have been delivered since Oc-
tober OF this year by the Union Me-
'allic Cartridge Company for the ar
mamcnt of the English army.
I'm reply l have the honor to refer
TO the letter of December 10, 1914. Of
the Remington Arms Union Metallic
Cartridge Company. OF New York. to
Your ENccliency, called forth by GER
tain newspaper reports OF statements
alleged to have been made bv Won in
regard TO the sale by that comparv Of
soft-noscd bullets. From this letter.
Il copy of which was sent to ;bis de.
partment by the company, II appears
that instead of 5000. 900 cartridges hav-
ing been sold. only little over III. 900
were manufactured. and 10000 were
sold. The letter further asserts that
these cartridges were made TO supnl,.
n demand for hetter sporting car
fridge with II soft-nosed bullet than
mad been manufactured heretofore:
and that such cartridges canno, be
used In the military rifle of any foreign
power. The company adds that its
statement can be substantiated and
that it is ready To give you any evil
dence that you may require on these
points.
LIST OF PERSONS TO WHOM
CARTRIDGES WE'RE SOLD
The department is now in receipt
from the company of complete de-
NoiiSN iiSl VI tNe persons TO whom those
cartridges were sold. From this list
1t appears that the cartridges were sold
TO firms in lots of twenty to 1000 and
one lot each of 5000, 1000 and 5000.
OF these only go cartridges went to
British North America and 100 to Brit
ish East Africa.
If. however. you can furnish the
department with evidence that this or
any other company are manufacturing
and selling for the use of the contend
Ing armies IN Europe. cartridges whose
use would contravene The Hague con-
the government would be
glad to be furnished with the evidence.
and the President directs me to inform
you that. In case any American COM
pany is shown to be engaged I'm this
traffic, he will use his influence to pre-
vent, so far as possible. sales of such
ammunition to the powers engaged in
the European war, without regard to
1t is tho duty of this govern
ment, upon legal or conventional
grounds. TO take such action.
I'm view OF the publicity which has
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