Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-04-22
UNITED STATES
REPLY REbUKE
To BERNST0RFF
Wilson Refers to Impugning
Our MOtiveS-ThiS Nation is
Neutral Always, He Says.

government to the memorandum OF
Count Won Bernstorff is regarded as a
kindly worded but very decided rebuke
to the German ambassador
While answering In considerable de
tail the ambassadors contention that
the United States should prohibit the
expectation of arms TO the allies. the
note goes further and points out the
impropriety of the ambassadors state
ment which have to do with the rela.
tions between the governments of the
United States and Great Britain. The
note also calls attention to the fact
that the language In the ambassadors
memorandum is open TO the construc-
tion that It impugns the good faith Of
the United States.
Washington Is Pleased.
The American note. which was de-
livered to the German embassy, IL
viewed with much satisfaction in off
cial quarters. 1t Is the work of Presi
dent Wilson. though bearing Secretary
Bryan's signature. The belief IL that
1t will accomplish all that was desired
HA tilt Suliit lIlHS anu hNOtU HI fUF
dangers feared in connection with the
rather delicate situation created by the
ambassadors memorandum
Administration officials are satisfied
that 1t will have the effect of abso
lutely terminating further discussion
of the issue raised by the Germans and
that Ii will be out of the question for
n;r
again to bring the issue before the
United States government or the
American public. It is felt. too. that
1t upholds the dignity of this govern
ment In manifesting Enthusiastically the
disDleaSure caused nv features Of the
embassy memorandum vet in a way
which can cause no serious unpleasant.
ness between the United States and
German governments
Here IS the note handed by Secretary
Bryan TO C0unt vOn Bernstorff. the
German ambassador:
Excellency-I have given thoughtful con-
sfderatlon to your excellencys note of the
9Th of April 1915, inclosing a memoran-
dun Of the same date. in which your ex-
cellency discussed the action of this gov
United States and Germany and the attf-
tude of this government with regard to
the expectation Of arms from the United
States to the nations now at war with
Germany.
Some Hardly Appropriate.
I must admit that somewhat at
-i5sss -i5sss how to iGtrfpref your exesifency's
treatment of these matters There are
many circumstances connected with these
important subjects to which | would have
expected your excellency to advert but of |
which you make no mention, and there
are other circumstances to which you do |
refer which 7 would have supposed to be |
hardly appropriate for discussion between |
the government of the United States and |
the government Of Germany. shall take |
the liberty therefore of regarding your |
excellency's references to the course mr. |
sued by the government of the United !,
States with regard to interference with |
trade from this country such as the gov /
ernment Of Great Britain have ATTEMPTED |
as intended merely to illustrate more fully
the situation to which you desire to call |
ouN attention and not as an invitation to |
discuss that course. Your excellency's
long experience In international affairs
VIII have suggested to YOU that the rela-
tions of the two governments with one an.
other cannot wisely be made a subject of
discussion with third government which
and which cannot be fully cognjzan+ of |
the reasons for the course pursued |
believe, however, that | am justified In |
assuming that what you desire to call
forth Is a frank statement of the uositIon |
OF this government in regard to its obli-
cations as a neutral power. The general
attitude and course of policy of this gov
ernment in the maintenance of its neutraI
fty l am particularly anxious that vo,,r
exceHency should see in their tr1le ,igbt
had hoped that this governments posi- |
tion in these respects had been msde |
clear but I am of cnnruo |
perfectly willing to state II again. This
seems to me the more necessary and d. !
sirable because, | regret to say tho lar |
guage which your excellency ernployad IN |
your memorandum is susceptible of ba,ng
construed as impusning the good faitb NJ |
the United States in the performance o;
Its duties as a neutral ! take n Sor |
granted that no such implication was in.
tended, but 1t Is so evident that your ax
cellency Is laboring under certain faI.s
Impressions that I cannot be too explict, |
In setting forth the facts as they are
when fully reviewed and comprehended
U. S. Has Yielded No Rights
In the first place. this government has
IT no time In no manner yielded any one
of Its rights as neutral to any OF tht
present belligerents It has acknowledged
Is a matter Of course the right of visit
md search and the right to apply the
ules of contraband OF war to articles of
commerce. 1t has indeed insisted upon
he use of visit and search as an abso-
utely necessary safeguard against mig |
aking neutral vessels for vessels owned |
" an enemy and against mistaking legal |
argoes for Illegal 1t has admitted also
he right of blockade If maintained These
re merely the well known limitations
'hlch war places upon neutral commerce
n the high seas. But nothing beyond
hese has II conceded. I call your excel
ency's attention to this. knowing It is al
eady known to all the world as a conse- |
uencs of the publication OF our CORE
pondence In regard to the matters with
everal OF the belligerent nations, because
cannot assume that you have officiai
ognizance of II
In the second place. this government
to secure from the German and
Irtish governments mutual concessions
Nth regard TO the measures those gov
respectively adopted for the in
eruption Of trade on the high seas. This
did not Of right, but merely as exercis-
lg the privileges OF sincere friend OF
9th parties and as indicating its Impair
al good will. The attempt was unsuc-
essful. But regret that your excellency
i'd not deem It worthy Of mention in
ton OF the impressions you eH-
ressed. We had hoped that this act on
ur part had shown our spirit in these