Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-02
BRYAN ANSWERS PROTEST
ON RYDROAEROPLANEs
Docs Not Concur in German Conten-
ton That Such Craft Arc Yes
sells OF War.
CORRESPONDENCE GIVEN OUT
Writes to Ambassador Won Berns-
torff, Whose objection to Build
ing of Machines for Sale to Eng
land Recently Vase Received.

| WASHINGTON, February 1-In-rcply
to Germany's protest against the build
Ing OF hydroaeroplancs by American
manufacturers for England and Russia.
Secretary Bryan has informed the Ger
man ambassador that the State Depart
/ mcnt does not concur in the contention
that such craft are vessels OF war
whose delivery to belligcrent states
by neutrals should lit stopped"
The correspondence on the subject
was made public to-day by Mr. Bryan
On January 10. Count Won Dcrnstorff
wrote the Secretary OF State, saying
hydroHcroplanes were being sold to the
ailies' detailing the companies by which
the parts were built. and added:
There is no doubt that hydroarro-
planes must be regarded as war yes
sells whose delivery to belligerent
states by neutrals should he stopped
under article of the thirteenth CON
vcntion of the second Hague conference
of October is. 1907. Iiydroaeroplnnes
are not mentioned by name in the con-
rcntion. simply because there was none
In 1907, at the time OF tho conference.
ON the supposition that hydroacro-
planes are delivered to belligcrcnts
against the wishes OF tho government
of the United States. ] have the honor
ccllency's kind knowledge"
sECRETARY,S REPLY
TO GERMAN PROTEST.
Secretary Bryan replied under date Of
January %? rs follows:
"Exccljucy:
II have the honor to acknowledge
tho receipt of Your Excellency's note
of the 10Th instant. and in reply have
TO inform you that the statements CON
received my careful consideration. in
view OF the earnest purpose of this
government to perform every duty
which Is imposed upon IL rs n neutral
by treaty stipulation and internn
tional law.
The essential statement in your
note which implies an obligation on
the pnrt OF this government to inter-
fere in the sale and delivery of hydro
neropla nes to belligcrent powers is:
Fhere is no doubt that hydropln nes
must he regarded as war vessels. whose
delivery to belligerent states by ncu.
trails should be stopped under article
NC the thirteenth convention OF the
second Hngue conference OF October
is. 1907
AS to this assertion OF the char
ncter of hydroacroplancs. I submit the
following comments: The fact that
hydroaeroplnne is fitted with apparat,,s
TO rise from ana alight upon the son
Goes not. in my opinion. give II tho
character OF vessel any more that
the wheels attached to an neroplane
hitting 1t to rise from and nlight upon
land give tho latter the character or
land vehicle. Both the hytlroaero-
plane and tho aeroplanc are essentially
nircrafE: and as an aid In military
operations they can only be usod In
the mir; the fact that one starts it's
hight from the surface Of the sea ami
the other from the land is mere in
cident, which in no way affects their
aerial character.
I'm view Of these facts, must dis
cent from Your EXcellency's assertion
that there is no doubt that hydroaero
planes must be regarded as war YES
seR, and consequently do not regard
inc obligations Imposed by treaty or by
the accepted rules of international law
applicable to aircraft OF any sort
In this connection, l further call
10 Your Exccllency's attention that,
according to the latest advices received
by ms department, the German i'm
periai government include balloons and
flying machines and their component
parts in the list of conditional contra
band, and that in the imperial prize
ordinance. drafted September 30, 1909.
and Issued in the Rcichs -GcsetZbiatt on
August 3, 1914. appear as conditional
contra band 'airships and flying ma
chimes. (articlc %, section s. 1t thus
appears that the imperial government
nave placed and still retain aircraft of
all descriptions In the class OF condi-
tional contraband. for which no special
treatment Involving neutral duty is, so
Tar as ] am advised. provided by any
treaty to which the United States is n
signatory or adherinE power.
AS in the views of this department,
the provisions OF convention Mi of
the second Hague conference do NOT
apply to hydroacroplanes, 10 not con-
aioer IL necessary to discuss the que.-
tons as to whether those provisions arc
In force during the present war.
ACCEPT. EXcellcncy, the renewed as
suranceS of my highest consideration
HW