The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-04-15
GERMANY SAYS L. :. ACQUIESCE.
States Allies are Receiving Shipments
of War Supplies.


complaining that the latter has ac-
coMplished nothing in its diplomatic
correspondence with the allies to OBJ
tain for American exporters the right
to ship foodstuffs to the civilian pop
ulation of a belligerent country. The
communication intimateS also that
the United States has virtually ac-
quiesced in the British order in coun-
Gil prohibiting commerce with Ger
many
In view of these considerations
Germany calls attention to the fact
that the allies daily are obtaining
large shipments OF arms and ammu-
milton from dealers in the United
States. and declares that the Amerl-
can government, while insisting on
its legal right to ship arms to bellig-
erents. does not with equal energy
pursue its right to ship foodstuffs
and non-contraband articles to the
civilian population Of Germany.
The note urges that, irrespective
of the formal aspects of the question
of shipping arms to belligerents. the
spirit of neutrality should be observ-
ed. In support of this contention a
quotation is cited from President
Wilson's address to congress on Mex
lean affairs in August, 1913. when he
said:
Il shall follow the best practice of
nations in the matter of neutrality
by forbidding the expectation Of arms
or munitions of war of any kind from
the United States to any part of the
republic Of MeXico-a policy suggest
ed by many manifest considerations
of practical eXpediency. We cannot.
in the circumstances. be partiSans OF
either party to the contest that now
distracts Mexico. or constitute our
selves the virtual umpire between
them"
Officials of the State department
have begun the preparation of re-
ply. The complaint that neutral
countries had submitted to the in
fluence of the allies in connection
with the right to ship conditional
contraband has been made before by
Germany in her diplomatic notes
this being cited by the German for
eign Office as one of the reasons for
proclaiming a submarine war zone
of the waters surrounding Great Bri-
tain and Ireland. The United States
denied in its reply then that it had
been silent on the question and call
ed attention to it's diplomatic notes
to Great Britain dealing with the sit
uation.
1t is understood that the reply to
the present complaint will deny Wig
orously that this government has &C
ouiesced in any way to the order in
council, and probably will refer to
the last note sent by the United
States to Great Britain arguing at
length in opposition to the viewpoint
of the allies on the blockade Ques-
ton.
As for the utterances of the presi-
dent on the shipment of arms into
Mexico, officials here hold that the
Mexican situation constitutes spec
ial case, in no way comparable with
the relations between the United
States and the European belligerents.
Officials pointed out that the presl-
dent said in the same address to con-
gress:
Il deem it my duty to exercise
he authority conferred upon me by
the law of March IA, 1912, to see to
it that neither side of the struggle.
now going on in Mexico, receive any
assistance from this side Of the bor-
der"
There is no law by which the presl-
dent of the United States, it was de-
ciared. could exercise the same au-
horitv. even if he were desirous or
forbidding the expectation of arms
to all belligerents, as to do so with
out authority from congress would
be unconstitutional.
The viewpoint Of the American
government has been from the outset
that it's position viii respect to the
shipment of arms has been enforced
impar,ially as to all belligerents. and
Secretary Bryan's letter TO Chairman
Stone. of the senate foreign relations
committee, discussed this point, con-
tended that if the GermaElc allies
were unable to enjoy the same ad-
vantages as to the delivery of arms
into their country, this was due 10
the naval superiority of Great brl-
tain and not to any circumstances
over which the United States had
any control.