The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-02-12
AMERICAN NEUTRALITY OFF,
CIALLY EXPLAINED


pathies have been so insistent In ac-
cusing our government Of immortality
that our Secretary of State has felt
compelled to clear the air by plain
statement of its position. His words
carry conviction to most of the news
papers we have examined, but it Is no
ticeable that just as the majority Of
the accusations come from the Ger
man side, that side is now not fully
satisfied with his defense. Mr.. Her
man Ridder, for instance, tells us in
his New York Staats-Zeitung how clear
it is to him that "the document which
bears the signature of Mr.. Bryan was
composed either in London or in the
English embassy at Washington But
partizan of the Allies, finds In the let
ter conclusive proof, that most of the
administration acts have been in
favor of Germany and against the AL
lies" Some political foes of the adj
ministration profess to hold the doc
ument in contempt, yet we note many
of Mr. Bryan's most inveterate enc
mics in the long list OF press eulogists.
Some of them, indeed, find the letter
SO satisfactory that they can not be-
lieve Mr.. Bryan had much to do with
preparing it. The London press, 1t
may be here noted, seem generally to
think our Secretary OF State has prov
ed his case, The Times even going so
far as to say that his letter will be
read with satisfaction by all unpreju-
diced champions of neutral rights.
Whether the various pros" like Mr.,
Bryan's letter or not, patriotic Amer
icans," declares the New York World
will like it because he clears up all
points that have been raised In res
pect to the attitude of the United
States government" The letter, it adds
'is permanent contribution to Amer,
lean history"
Though some writer's object to what
they call the political motive" behind
the letter, the New York Evening Pos
believes that those in charge of oul
foreign relations, as elected rulers il
a democracy, have to take cogmizanc'
of the attitude of large elements il
our citizenship" And in view of thu
many citizens of German origin, "th
administrator may rightly take step
to show them that the laws of neutral
ity are impartially enforced" Fo
example:
IF British pretensions have bee
oyerweening, the government ca
: prove that it has not tamely acquisce
in them. This was made clear in tn
American note. 1t stands out in great
err plainness, and with more detail j
the recitals of the letter to Senate
: Stone. In several matters, the Depart
ment of State has protested to th
British government or one of the A
lies. 1t objected to the towering c
British cruisers off New York harbo
and that practice has in consequence
E been given up. In like mannter,
: japanese war-ship, after protest b
: us, ceased to hover off Honolulu. An
= in the instance of discouraging tn
e flotation of public loan here. in tn
= interest of the Allies the administr;
e ton gave the surest proof of its de
X sire to hold the scales absolutely eve
G where there was no specific provisio
e of law, domestic or international, con
: pelling it OF a definite course"
C Since Secretary Bryans letter
II 5000 words long and fills five new
l. paper columns, answering twenty sp,
II cific complaints, it is impossible
y, do more than sketch it's outline her
II Besides the matters mentioned by II
n Evening Post or covered in the rece'
1t note to Sir Edward Grey, the Secreta
l. explains that this government ALLOW
d free communication by cable viii
Je censoring wireless messages, becau
is cables can be cut by belligerents, al
because messages may be sent fro
wireless stations on neutral shores
- belligerent warships on the high ses
10 There has been so far, no serious tro
81 BILE over private letters, passports, a
We arrests of American citizens. and
nc the few cases that have occurred, BIO
III sides are held to be about equali.
III fault. AS to alleged violations of t
gu Hague conventions and the Declarati
DIS of London, our government does i
Il consider them binding, and Is acti
according to the general principles
NC international law. Complaints of
Is sale of dum-dum bullets to Great B
ne tain by American manufacturers a
NC said to be unfounded. There has be
II no shipment of British troops or W
Il material across the territory of
. United States, though "a request
Ell the part of the Canadian governme