Fergus County Democrat., 1915-04-22

infant OF the reasons for the course
pursued. l believe, however, that l
am justified in assuming that what
you desire to call forth is a frank
statement of the position of this gov
ernment in regard to it's obligations
as neutral power. The general at
titude and course of policy of this gov
ernment in the maintenance of its
neutrality am particularly anxious
that your excellency should see in
their true light. had hoped that this
governments position in these re-
spects had been made abundantly
clear, but l am, Of course, perfectly
willing to state it again. This seems
to me the more necessary and desir-
able because, regret to say. the Ian
guage which your excellency employs
in your memorandum is susceptible of
being construed as impugning the good
faith of the United States in the per-
formance OF its duties as neutral.
take it for granted that no such i'm
plication was intended, but it is so evil
dent that your excellency is laboring
under certain false impressions that
cannot be too explicit in setting forth
the facts as they are, when fully re-
viewed and comprehended.
"In the first place, this government
has at no time and in no manner yield
ed any one of it's rights as neutral to
any one of the present belligerents. It
has acknowledged, as a matter OF
course. the right of visit and search
and the right to apply the rules of con.
traband of war to articles of com.
merce. 1t has, indeed, insisted upon
the use of visit and search as an alb
solutely necessary safeguard against
mistaking neutral vessels for vessels
owned by an enemy and against mis-
taking legal cargoes for illegal. 1t
has admitted also the right of blockade
if actually exercised and effectively
maintained. These are merely the
well known limitations which war
places upon neutral commerce on the
high seas. But nothing beyond these
has it conceded. l call your excel
lency's attention to this notwithstand-
ing it is already known to all the
world as a consequence of the publi-
cation of our correspondence in regard
to these matters with several of the
belligerent nations, because l cannot
assume that you have official cogniz-
ance of it.
''In the second place, this govern
ment attempts to secure from the
German and British governments mu-
tual concessions with regard to meas
ures those governments respectively
adopt for the interruption of trade on
the high seas. This it did, not of right,
but merely as exercising the privileges
of sincere friend of both parties and
as indicating it's impartial good will.
The attempt was unsuccessful; but
regret that your excellency did not
deem it worthy of mention in modifi-
cation OF the impressions you express
ed. We had hoped that this act on our
part had shown our spirit in these
times of distressing war as our diplo.
matte corps had shown our steadfast
refusal to acknowledge the right of any
belligerent to alter the accepted rules
of war at sea insofar as they affect
the rights and interests of neutrals.
"In the third place, note with sin
cere regret that in discussing the sale
and expectation of arms by citizens o1
the United States to the enemies o1
Germany, your excellency seems to be
under the impression that it was
within the choice of the government Of
the United States, Notwithstanding its
professed neutrality and it's diligen
efforts to maintain it in other particu
lars to inhibit this trade and that its
failure to do so manifested an unfair
attitude towards Germany. This gov
ernment holds, as believe your excel
lency is aware, and as it is constrained
to hold, in view of the present indis
putable doctrines of accepted interna
tional law, that any change in it's owl
laws of neutrality during the progress
of a war which would affect unequal.
the relations of the United States witt
the nations at war, would be an un
justifiable departure from the prin
ciples of strict neutrality by which
has consistently sought to direct it
actions, and l respectively submit tha
none of the circumstances, urged il
your excellency's memorandum, alter
the principle involved. The placin
of an embargo on the trade in arms a
the present time would constitute sue
a change and be a direct violation Q
the neutrality of the United States.
will, feel assured, be clear to you
, excellency that holding this view an
considering itself in honor bound by i
, it is out of the question for this go,
ernment to consider such course.
II hope that your excellency wi
! realize the spirit in which am draf
, ing this reply. The friendship bt
tween the people of the United State
, and the people of Germany is s
warm and of such long standing, tn
| ties which bind them to one another i
amity are so many and SO strong tina
3 this government feels under a specia
} compulsion to speak with perfee
: frankness when any occasion arise
which seems likely to create any mi.
> understanding, however slight or ten
porary, between those who represen
: the governments of the two countrie.
: It will be matter of qualification t
1 me If have removed from your e,
3 cellencys mind any misapprehensio
! you may have been under regardin
: either the policy or the spirit and pul
, pose of the government of the Unite
: tates. It's neutrality is founded on tn
firm basis Of conscience and good will
9 accept, excellency. the renewed a
9 surances of my highest consideration
,