Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-04-28
EM!BARG!0:.
zzeHs'gENr k,lsoA REPLIES TO
4bAssARoR W. BERN ~.
5sss $ e :: ! &ToBEF's NbTE. Z
EIRh zTlANb ON POLICY i :: I.
$g&o e & 5 WI.
Executive Denies Charge Of one-sided
Ae4ralffy in Calm and Dlsnified
poctment-Wants to u Continue
Friendly Relations With Germany.

= Washington, April 23.-The United
States will not apply an embargo on
arms or change its neutrality laws
during the progress OF the war.
4 This is the answer Of President Will
son to the memorandum submitted by
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
bassador, impugning the good faith Of
the United States in the enforcement
I Of it's neutrality. ,t4,5ts
The note, which was drafted by
+ Counselor Lansing and amended by the
president, is a calm and dignifed re-
pudiation OF the charge made by the
amt assador. It rejects the ambassa-
doris proposals to establish an en-
barge ION arms and to use this coun.
! try's export trade as a means to com
pei England to permit foodstuffs ito
reach Germany. #$.${ "
81. It proclaims the policy Of the United
States to be as it has been, the up
holding Of its rights as against any and
!, all belligerents and the enforcemento of
the laws OF neutrality which were in
force at the time the war began.
Moreover, the president asserts that
4 any change Of the principle involved,
such as the German ambassador sug-
gested, would be q direct violation Of
American neutrality. II II & . 4; III.
The communic ation is courteous ana
!. polite. The president shows his view
that 1t would have been more in keep
ing with the proprieties had the am:
bassador mentioned several matters
connected with the general subject ;of
American neutrality, which he, failed
TO mention; and that the ambassador
$stepped beyond the bounds when he
sought to take up with the United
I States questions this government is
discussing with Great Britain. .'i5;
55iS Here are the salient points Of the
4 presidents reply: III 3.ss. S5.I II,
/. The relations Of two governments
with each other cannot wisely be
made a subject of discussion with a
third government, which cannot be
fully informed as to the facts and
which cannot be fully cognizant Of
the reasons for the course pursued. 1;
The language employed by the
ambassador in his memorandum is
susceptible Of being construed as i'm
pugning the good faith Of the United
States In the performance OF Its duties
as neutral &, XII IA AZ "A & NJ J.
8. The president takes 1t for granted
that; no such implication was IN
tended, but regards it as evident that
{ the. ambassador is laboring under, GER
tain false impressions .sss@3.s Y.
{ 4. This government has at no time
and in no manner yielded any one
of its rights as a neutral ito any Of; the
present belligerents. 54 4. \.
3 $: S. It has insisted upon the use of
! visit and search as an absolutely
necessary safeguard against mistaking
!, neutral yess els for enemy vessels and
against mistaking legal cargoes for IL
legal. 5 " z III u
6. Beyond the right to visit and
search and that Of blockade, the
4 United States has conceded nothing.
; Z. Our diplomatic correspond nce
has shown our steadfast refusal to
acknowledge the right Of any sbelliger-
ent to alter the accepted rules OF war
at sea, In SO. far as they affect the.
rights and interests Of neutrals.
s. The United States holds that any
change in its I own laws Of neutral
ity during the progress of war,
which would affect unequally the re-
$lations of the United States with the
nations at war, would be. an unjusti.
\ fable departure from the principle of
strict neutrality by which it has con-
sistently sought to direct its actions.
i 8. None COT the circumstances ad-
|. yanced by the ambassador in his
h memorandum alters the principle in
volved. IS; sss. p. 4 AZ III,
10. Imposition Of an embargo on the
4 trade IN arms at the present time
would be a direct violation Of the neu.
D tralitys OF the United States. @ .#
II. It is out Of the question for the
American government to consider
such a course. sz# y5,ri %2
IL. The neutrality Of the United
States is founded upon the firm basis
of conscience: and good will. w. s