The Hartford republican., 1915-04-16
GERMANY
CRITICISES U. S.
America Taken To Task
For Aiding Allies.
c;lt
Exchanges Made Public ShowEm-
barge On Munitions Urged
By Bernstorff.

Washington. April 11.-Count
Won Bernstorff, the German Ambas-
sador made public tonight the text
note he recently presented to the
jfate Department, declaring that ''if
the American people desire to OBJ
serve true neutrality they will find
means to stop the exclusive exporta-
tions arms to one side. or at least
TO use this export trade as a means
to uphold the legitimate trade with
Germany. especially the trade in
foodstuffs.
The memorandum was prepared at
the Germany Embassy, and while 1t
does not call for a reply. the State
Department has already drafted one
which will probably be delivered
within the next few days.
The Am AMBASSADOR in his complaint
informs the United States that con-
trary to the real spirit of neutrality
an enormous new industry of war
material OF every kind is being built
up in this country and that this is
supplying only Germany's enemies,
fact which is In no way modified by
the purely theoretical willingness to
furnish Germany as well. II it were
possible"
The text of this memorandum fol-
lows:
Text Of Note.
THE different British orders-in-
council have altered the universally
recognized rules Of International law
In such one-sided manner that
they arbitrarily suppress the trade
ok neutral countries with Germany.
Already prior to the last order-in-
council the shipment of conditional
contraband. especially foodstuffs. to
Germany was practically impossible.
In fact. prior to the protest which
the American Government made in
London on December 2S. 1914, not
a single shipment Of such goods for
Germany has been affected from the
United States.
also after the lodging Of the pro-
test and as far as is known to the
German embassy only one such ship
ment has been attacked by an Ameri-
can skipper. Ship and cargo were
Immediately seized by the British
and are still detained at a British
port. AS a pretext from this unwar-
ranted action the British Govern
German Federal Council concerning
the wheat trade, altho this decree
only covered wheat and flour and no
other foodstuffs. altho imported
foodstuffs were especially exempt
from this decree and altho the Ger
man government had given all nee
essary guarantees to the United
States Government and had even pro-
posed a special organization In or
der to secure these foodstuffs for
the civilian population.
Violation Claimed. .......
"The seizure OF an American ship
under these circumstances was In
contradiction with the recognized
pv3ciples of international law. New
ertheless. the United States Govern
ment has not yet obtained the re-
lease of the ship. nor has II after
eight months of war succeeded in
safeguarding the legitimate Ameri-
can trade with Germany Such a de-
lay, especially when the supply of
foodstuffs In concerned seems equiv
alent to complete failure. 1t is there
fore assumed that the United States
Government has accepted England's
violations of international law.
Furthermore has to be consider
ed the attitude of the Government
of the United States concerning the
question of the expectation OF war
material. The imperial embassy hopes
to agree with the Government OF the
United states in assuming that with
regard to the question OF neutrality
there is not only the formal side to
be considered, but also the spirit
In which neutrality is.enforced.
k"Conditons In the present war are
ohferent from those In any former
wars. For this reason 1t is not justi-
fled to point ct the fact that perhaps
In former wars Germany furnished