The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-25
In Order to Equalize the
Strength of the Superior
on High Seas
UNITED STATES TAKES
THAT POSITION
If Germany and Austria Are
Unable to Import, Then We
Shouldn't Stop Allies

Washington, d. c., Jan. 25.--Thc
United States government to-day issued
a lengthy defense of its Interpretation
of the rights and duties Of neutral in
the European war.
A document, 5000 words long, pre-.
pared BY President Wilson, Secretary
Bryan and Counsellor Robert Lansing OF
the state department after several days
lof consultation, was made public in the
form Of letter from the secretary Of
state to Senator Stone Of Missouri, chair.
man OF the Senate committee on foreign
relations.
While the letter il reply to an in
quiry from Senator Stone for informa-
tion as result Of complaints made in
the press and in letters from various
parts Of the country charging the Wash.
ington government with unfairness to
Germany and Austria, it also is intended
as a announcement of policy on some
questions Of neutrality previously uneN-
planned.
After answering 10 separate and speci-
fic charges and calling attention to the
fact that the United States has promptly
taken to task Great Britain AZ we'll as
Germany and every government which In
any way has infringed upon the rights
of this country, the letter concludes with
the following declaration on the much
discussed question of expectation Of war
munitions:
III any American citizens partisans of
Germany and Austria Hungary, feel that
this administration is acting in way
injurious to the cause Of those countries,
this feeling results from the fact that on
the high seas the German and Austro-
Hungarian naval power is thus far III
ferior to the British. II is the business
of belligerent operating on the high
seas, not the duty of neutral, to pre-
vent eontraband from reaching an enemy
Those in this country who sympathize
with Germany and Austria Hungary ap-
pear to assume that some obligation
rests upon this government, in the per-
Torrance OF It's neutral duty, TO pre-
vent all trade in contraband. and thus
to equalize the difference due to the
relative naval strength of the bellger-
ents. No such obligation exists; ii would
be an unneutral act. an act of partiality
on the part Of this government, to adopt
such a policy. If the executive had the
power 10 do so.
III Germany and Austria Hungary cam
not import eontraband from this country, |
It is not, because of this fact. the duty |
Of the United States to close its markets |
10 the allies. The markets of this eoun- |
try are open upon equal terms to all the |
world, to every nation, belligerent or
neutral"
During the course OF the letters dis /
'ussion of the various charges made, the |
following facts hitherto undisclosed were 4
revealed for the first time:
That the Canadian government recent.
" asked the UniteG States for permits.
ZION 20 ship ''war equipment" across
Alaska to the sea and the request was
efused
That the United States has sent a VIC.
,rous protest TO France because some
German passengers on an American ship 4
lying between two ports in Colombia
we're forced by a boarding crew from =
french cruiser 20 sign a promise not to
participate in the war. This procedure n
vas declared in the American note 10 be
an unwarranted exercise of jurisdiction
ver American vessels in which this gov
rnment will not aequiesce" i,
That sharp representations also we're
made TO another Of the allied govern
lents because search was conduotcd on
he high seas on an American ship FOR
lerman and Austrian passengers. The I
anne 81 the vessel Or offending govern
lent was not revealed. Ii
That on Dee. IS. last, the German am Ii
assador by direction Of his government Z
eliyered memorandum 10 the United /
tates government stating that under I
be- general principles Of international =
~. no exception esn b. taken 10 neutral 4
tates letting war material 90 to Ger 4
iany's enemies from or through neutral d
.rritory.7 q
That representations were made 10 =
9th Japan and Great Britain against 4
b continued presence Of their varships a
Z American ports snd that the protests
ere IN esch case herded. H.
That since the announcement q the L
'ashington governmeHts disapprovai NJ III