Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-25
DEFENDS POSITION
OF UNITED STATES
Secretary Bryan Explains Inter
pretation of Rights and Duties
of a Neutral.
LETTER TO CHAIRMAN STONE
Result of Complaints M a d e,
Charging Unfairness to Ger
many and Austria.

HSfilNiloN, January 2i.-Tho
United States government o-iay Issued
lengthy defense of Its Interpretation
OF tho rights and duties OF neutral in
the European war.
document. 5000 words long, pre-
pared by President Wilson. Secretary
Bryan and Counselor Robert Lansing.
of the State Department. after several
days OF consultation. was made public
In the form OF letter from the Secre-
tary OF State 10 Senator Stone. of Mis-
souri,. chairman Of the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations
While the letter is a reply to an In
qu!ry from Senator Stone for informa-
ton. as n result Of complaints made in
the press and in letters from various
parts OF the country, charging the
Washington government with unfair
neHs to Germany and Austria, 1t also
Is Intended as pronouncemcnt Of
policy on some questions OF neutrality
previously unexplained.
Secretary Bryan's letter follows:
January 90. 1915
lion. William ]. Stone. Chairman
Committee on Foreign Relations.
United States Senate, Washington,
d. c.:
Dear Mr.. Stone.-I have received
your letter OF the Sth instant referring
to frequent complaints or charges made
in one form another through the
press that this government has shown
partiality to Great Britain. France and
Russia against Germany and Austria
during the present war. and stating
that you have received numerous let
ters TO the same effect from sympa-
thizers with the latter powers. You
summarize the various grounds OF these
omplaints. and ask that you be fur
nishcd with whatever information the
department may have touching these
points OF complaint, in order that you
may he informed rs to what the true
situation is in regard to these matters
In order that you may have such
Information as the department has on
the subjects referred to in your letter,
/ VIII take them up seriatim.
DIFFERENT TREATMENT
FOR WIRELESS AND CABLES
"l Freedom OF communication by
submarine cables versus censored com
munication by wireless.
The reason that wireless messages
and cable messages require different
J treatment by neutral government is
as follows:
Communications by wireless cannot
be interrupted by a bclligercnt With
n submarine cable II is otherwise. The
possibility of cutting the cable exists
and II bclligcrent possesses naval
superiority. the cable is cut. as was
y, 4
one OF Germany's enemies. and as was
the British cable near Tanning Island
by a German naval force Since a
cable Is subject to hostile attack, the re-
sponsibility falls upon the bclligerent
and not upon the neutral to prevent
cable communication.
more Important reason, however,
at least from the point of view OF n
neutral government. is that messages
sent out from n wireless station in neu-
trail territory may be received by bel
liscrcnt warships on the high seas. If
these messf ges. whether plain or in
cipher. direct the movements of war
ships or convey to them information as
to the location of an enemy's public
or private vessels. the neutral territory
becomes base of naval operations. TO
permit which would be esseptially nm
neutral.
As wireless message can be re-
ceived by all stations and vessels with
in given radius. every message in
cipher. whatever it's intended dcstina
ton. must be censored. otherwise mill
tary' information may be sent to war
ships Off the coast OF neutral 1t is
manifest that n submarine cable is in
capable or becoming n means of direct
communication with n warship on the
hiSh seas; hence Its use cannot as
rule, make neutral territory base
for the direction OF naval operations.
CENSORSHIP OF MAILS
is UNQUESTI0NED RIGHT
"t2) Censorship Of mails and in some
cases repeated destruction of American
letters on neutral vessels.
AS to tho censorship Of malls Ger
many as well as Grea. Britain has pur-
sued this course In regard to private
letters falling into their hands. The
unquestioned right to adopt n measure
OF this sort makes objection TO 1t in
advisable
ut has been asserted that American
mail on board of Dutch steamers has
been repeatedly destroyed. No evil
'N''NN ~ s'i'.' S'hSSl mas Deen 1lcU with
the government, and. therefore, no rep
resentatioEs have been made. Until
such case is presented In concrete
form. this government would not DC
justified In presenting the matter to
the offending bellige:ent. Complaints
have come to the department that mail
on board neutral steamers has been
opened and detained. but there seem to
ho hIIt faw uybo
neutral countries has not been nnnlly
delivered. When mail Ia sent to bellig-
erent countries open. and Is OF neu-