Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-12
COMPLAINT NOTE
GIVEN TO PUBLIC
Germany Declares United States
Is Not Observing Real Spirit
of Neutrality.
AID FURNISHED TO ENEMIES
But No Insistence on Safeguard
ing Legitimate Trade With
Kaiser's Kingdom.
AID FURNISHED TO ENEMIES

Bernstorff. the German ambassador,
made public tonight the text of the
note ne recently presented to the State
Department. declaring that 'if the
American people desire to observe true
neutrality they will find means to stop
the exclusive expectation OF arms to
one side, or at least to use this export
trade as means to uphold the legiti-
mate trade with Germany, especially
tn" trade in foodstuffs"
The memoranduIu was prepared at
the German embassy, and. while II does
not call for reply. the State Depart
ment has drafted one. which will be
delivered probably within the next few
days.
The ambassador. in his complaint. in
forms the United States that, contrary
to the real spirit Of neutrality. an enor-
nous new industry OF war material of
every kind is being built up in this
country. and that this is Supplying
only Germany's enemies, a fact which
is in no way modified by the purely
Theoretical! Willingness to furnish Ger
many as we'll if II were possible"
TENT OF MEMORANDUM
GIVEN OUT BY BERNSTORF'F
The text of the memorandum follows:
The different British orders in coun-
ell have altered the universally recog-
nized rules Of international law in such
a one-sided manner that they arbi-
trarily suppress the trade of neutral
countries with Germany. Already,
prior 10 the last order In council the
shipment of conditional contraband es-
pecialiy foodstuffs. to Germany was
practically impossible. In fact. prior
10 the protest which the American gov
ernment made In London on December
y. 1914. not single shipment of such
Got = for Germany had been effected
from the United States. Also, after the
lodging OF the protest, and. as far as
is known 10 the German embassy, only
one such shipment has been attempted
oE an American skipper. ship and
cargo were Immediately seized by the
British. and are still detained at a
pFitish port AS preteHt for this un-
warranted action, the British govern
'hent referred 10 decree of the Ger
man Federal Council concerning tho
wheat trade. although this decree ONLY
covered wheat and hour and no Other
iooos'uHs' although imported food
stufs were especially exempt from ,b;s
erhinent had given all necessary guar
"htees TO the United States government.
ana mad even proposed a special organi-
|ation in order to secure these food
stuns for the exclusive consumption OF
the civil population. The seizure
OF an American ship under these cir
cu'nstances was in contradiction with
the recognized principles of interna
.Hrfh ha1a
states government has not yet OBJ
'ained the release OF the shin. nor has
IT. after eight months OF war. sue
ceeded in safeguarding the leci,inst.
y american trade with Germany. Such
a delay. especially when the supplv or
foodstuffs is concerned. seems ecuiva
lent to complete failure II is, there
iorc, TO be assumed that the United
States government has accented Eng
lands violations of international law.
QUESTION OF EXPLOITATION
OF MATERIALS OF WAR
Furthermore, has TO be considered
the attitude of the government of tn,
United states concerning the question
OF the expectation OF war material
inc imperial embassy hopes to acree
with the government of the Emitted
states in assuming that, with regard to
the question OF neutrality, there is NOT
only the formal side to be considered
hut also the spirit in which neutrality
is enforced.
conditions in the present war are
different from those in any formar
wars. For this reason ii is not iusti
hed to point at the fact that perhans
III former wars Germany furnished
heiligerents with war materials Ro
cause in those former cases the ouea
tion was not whether any war materia,
was to be furnished to the bellicerents
put merely which one OF the competine
countries would furnish IL. In tho
present war, with the exception OF m.
united States, all the countries canabl.
OF noteworthy production OF war ms,
teriais are either at war themselves or
completing their arnamcnts. and bay.
accordingly prohibited the export,tion
oil war material Therefore, tho JJnited
states OF America is the only country
IN position to export war matoriol
This fact ought to give a new meaning
10 the idea OF neutrality, indcpcndent
of the formal law
instead of that. and in contradirtiop
with the real spirit OF ncutruIitv an
enormous new industry OF war ma
terials Of every kind is being built IN
in the United States. inasmuch as not
only the existing plants are kent husv
and enlarged. but also new ones arc
continually founded.
THE international agreements for
the protection of the right OF neutrals
originate in the necessity of protect
Ing tho existing industries OF the neu-
trail countries. They were never in
tended to encourage the creation Of en-
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