New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-22

this. This Is represented as illogical
and evidence of our mala iides
81 say most positively that our atti-
tude does not Justify such an interpre-
tation, and that the negotiations which
appear contradictory are entirely logi-
cal. Up TO the present the purchase OF
a munitions and war material factory
has neither been completed nor pre-
pared for by agreements, nor otherwise
arranged for.
Even If Germany and Austria-Hun
gary had hoped that the prohibition of
exports would result and had expected
that the behavior of Great Britain,
who, contrary to international law. has
snatched for herself control as regards
neutral countries and the sea and has
destroyed neutral trade. would lead to
prompt retaliation of the same charac-
ter. yet we regarded 1t as our right and
duty so long as Great Britain continued
her piracy on the high seas, to protect
ourselves against this international
system Of robbery by placing Difficult
ties as far as possible in the way OF
the export of war materials for the
Allies. either by the purchase of facto-
ries or war material. in spite of the
ldNb ludk lOl inc pifNtllb We arc iOl III
a position TO make use of these goods
for our own protection.
Would Buy Up Every Plant.
81 cannot understand on what
grounds criticism of our behavior in
this respect can be based If we pos
sessed the means and opportunities we
would buy up every munition factory
-, TTnttoI &c At,,o ,,o - IN
this way we could deprive the enemy
of munitions, and our proceeding
would certainly not involve a lack OF
logic or mala fides.
"ln order to indicate the worthless
ness and misleading character OF the
publications of which | am complaining
| should like to quote some passages
from an official document handed by
the German Embassy TO the State De-
partment on June u, 1915. From this
your excellency can see that not only
were we far from attempting to carry
out our proposed purchases of war ma
terial in secret, but that we explained
our intentions fully to the State De-
partment. and even offered to sell them
any or all the materials:
off the German government during
the course of the war should consider
il advisable to purchase arms, ammunI-
tons and other war material in the
United States it could do so for nc
other purpose than to prevent them
falling into the hands of the Allies
her enemy. The right of Germany tC
effect such purchases could not be
questioned. Such purchases could not
form a danger to the United States, but
to some extent would serve in the
limitation TO the casualties of the war
thus serving humanity. Such purchases
furthermore, would serve the particu.
lar interests of the United States, foi
you must remember that If the Ger.
man government should ever consider
il advisable to purchase war materials
in the United States 1t would do SC
knowing that delivery to Germany could
not be secured and that no use of the
purchased material could be hoped fol
during the war.
ait will readily be understood
therefore, that the German government
would at any time be willing, and in
deed, glad, to sell or transfer to the
United States government any or all
the material it had purchased. Instead
Of depriving this country of any part
Of her resources, the purchases by Ger
many would insure the retention within
this country of any material it nigh,
purchase.
Hoped to Save German Lives.
"'From the German point OF view
purchases Of this kind by the German
government of war material manufac-
tured in the United States, while II
would involve the sacrifice of large
sums OF money, would be justified
alone by the consideration of the hu-
name effects such as the purchases
might accomplish in saving the lives OF
German soldiers, whom, in the hands o.
the Allies, this war material would
wound or STAY
This statement is occasioned by sim
ultaneous articles couched in similar
terms in the leading newspapers of the
country, in which mention is made in
almost identical words OF "A German
plot to acquire war material in order
to hinder the United States from car
rying out their policy
These articles are clearly part of an
inspired press campaign, the object Of
which is to prepare difficulties for the
German government in their relations
with the government of the United
States, and they are obviously based on
malicious invention.
"The criticism directed against our
negotiations which were to prevent the
export of liquid chlorine TO the Allies
through buying the output. appears to
be conspicuously without justification
when one bears in mind the fact that
the British government since the be-
81, Of cha hoe
ments with this country under which
firstly. every American manufacturer
of India rubber and woollen goods can
only receive raw material and raw
wool required in his business on con-
dition that he sell the whole output
through a British agency, and is pre-
vented from selling 10 Germany or
Austria Hungary or from doing bus
ness with neutal countries otherwise
than through a British agency; second
ly, producers Of copper in this country
arer forced to proceed in the same
manner with regard 10 their output of
copper: thirdly. the great manufact-
cries Of preserved provisions equally
are forced 20 refuse TO supply their
goods 10 neutral countries unless Great
Britain. through her own agents, al
lows them TO carry out their contracts I;
fourthly. attempts are being made al
the present time 10 acquire the whole
cotton crop in the same way.
Complains OF Unfairness.
"As soon, however. as the German
government try TO obtain control OF
the output OF single factory, this per-
fcctly lawful proceeding is branded far
and wide as a propaganda which en-
tangles the United States in the Eu-
ropesn war and involves . fragrant