The Washington times., 1915-04-22

lutely clear. bat ! am. or course, PER-
fectly willing to state IL again.
This seems to me the more necessary
and desirable because ! regret to say
the language which your excellency en-
ploys In your memorandum Is suScepi-
BILE of being construed as irnpugnlng
the good faith OF the United states In
the performance OF its duties rs q ncu-
trail
Il take It for granted that no such
implication was intended, but 1t Is so
under certain false Impressions that |
cannot be too explicit in setting forth
the facts as they are, when fully re-
viewed and comprehended.
Rights of Belligerents.
I'm the first place, this Government
has at no time and in no manner yielded
any one OF its rights as n neutral to
any one> Of the present belligerents. 1t
has acknowledged. as matter or
| course, the right of visit and search and
the right to apply the rules of contra
band Of war to articles OF commerce. IL
has. indeed, insisted upon the use OF
visit and search AS an absolutely neces-
sary safeguard against mistaking neu-
trai vessels for vessels owned by an
enemy and against mistaking legal car
goes for illegal. 1t has admitted also
the right OF blockade, II actually exer-
cised and effectively maintained.
These are merely the well-known
limitations which war places upon
neutral commerce on the high seas; But
nothing beyond these has 1t conceded. 1
call your excellency's attention to this,
! notwithstanding It Is already known to
all the world as consequence or the
publication of our correspondence In re-
gard to these matters with several OF
a; the belliserent nations because l can
not assume that you have official cog
niZance of II.
! I'm the second place, this Government
attempted to- secure from the German
| and British governments mutual CON
cessions with regard to the measures
those governments respectively accepted
for the interruption of trade on the hlgh
seas. This 1t did not of right, but mere
II as exercising the privileges or sln-
cere friend of both parties and as lndi-
eating its impartial good Will
Rules of War At Sea.
THE attempt was unsuccessful; out !
| regret that your eXcellency did not deem
IL worthy of mention in modification OF
the impressions you expressed. We had
| hoped that this act on our part had
| shown our spirit IN these times of dis"
| tressing war as our diplomatic CORE
| spondence had shown our steadfast re-
| fusal to acknowledge the right OF any
belIigerent to alter the accepted rules
! Of war at sea in so far as they AFFECT
the rights and interests of neutrals.
| I'm the third place. | note with sincere
| regret that in discussing the sale and
| expectation of arms by citizens or the
/ United States to the enemies OF Ger
many, your cxcellcncy seems to be un'
i der the impression that 1t was within
| the choice of the Government OF tht
| United States. Notwithstanding its pro
fessed neutrality and it's diligent eI'
! forts TO maintain 1t in other par
/ ticulais. to inhibit his trade. anC
that it's failure to do so manifested
an unfair attitude toward Germany
This Government holds, as l believS
constrained to- hold in view Of the
! present indisputabe doctrines of &C
cepted international law. that any
change in its own laws of neutralit,
during the progress of a war; which
would affect unequally the relations Of
the United States with the nations a
war would be an unjustifiabie departure
from the principle of strict neutrality
by which 1t has consistently sought t'
direct II actions. and I respectfully sub
nit that none Of the circumstance!
urged IN your excellency's memoran
dunn alters the principle involved
| Embargo On Arms.
THE placing, Of an embargo on th
trade in arms at the present tim
would constitute such a change and b.
direct violation of the neutrality o
the United States. 1t will, | feel as
holding this view and considering itsel
in honor bound bv it. it is for thi
Government to consider such a course.
. Il hope your eXCellency will realiz
, the spirit in which / am drafting thi
reply. The friendship between the peo
lple Of the United States and the peopl
Of Germany is 80 warm and OF sue
long standing, the ties which bind ther
| to one another In amity are so man
and so strong. that this Government
feels under a special compulsion I
speak with perfect frankness when an
, | occa sion arises which seems likely t
create any misunderstanding. howeve
slight or temporary, between those VIII
/, represent the governments of the tw
, countries. 1t will be q matter Of graf
fcation to me if l have removed fror
your eXcellencys mind any misappre
hension you may have been under re
garding either the policy or the spir
, and purposes of the Government of tn
, United States. It's neutrality Is found
ed upon the firm basis of conscience an
} good will
Accept, your excellency, the renewe
l assurances OF my highest consideration
"(Sisned) w. j. BRYAN"
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