Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1915-04-30
NO ARMS EMBARGO
PRESIDENT WILSON REPLIES TO
AMBASSADOR Won BERN
STORFF's NOTE.
FIRM STAND ON POLICY
Executive Denies Charge of One-Sided
Neutrality In Calm and Dlsnified
Document-Wants to Continue
Friendly Relations With Germany.

Washington, April 23.-The United
States will not apply an embargo on
arms or change its neutrality laws
during the progress of the war.
This Is the answer of President VIII.
son to the memorandum submitted by
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
%bassador, impugning the good faith of
the United States In the enforcement
of it's neutrality.
The note, which was drafted by
Counselor Lansing and amended by the
president, is a calm and dignified re-
pudiation of the charge made by the
ambassador. 1t rejects the ambassa-
doris proposals to establish an en-
barge on arms M to use this coun.
try's export trade as a means to COM
pei England to permit foodstuffs to
reach Germany.
1t proclaims the policy Of the United
States to be as it has been, the up
holding of its rights as against any and
all belligerents and the enforcement Of
the laws Of neutrality which were in
force at the time the war began.
Moreover, the president asserts that
any change of the principle involved,
such as the German ambassador sug-
gested, would be a direct violation OF
American neutrality.
The communication is courteous n
polite. The president shows his view
that it would have been more in keep
Ing with the proprieties had the am.
bassador mentioned several matters
connected with the general subject Of
American neutrality, which he failed
to mention; and that the ambassador
stepped beyond the bounds when he
sought to take up with the United
States questions this government is
discussing with Great Britain.
Here are the salient points Of the
presidents reply:
l. The relations of two governments
with each other cannot wisely be
made a subject of discussion with a
third government, which cannot be
fully informed as to the facts and
which cannot be fully cognizant of
the reasons for the cours pursued.
2. The language employed by the
ambassador in his memorandum Is
susceptible of being construed as i'm
pugning the good faith of the United
States in the performance Of its duties
as a neutral.
3. The president takes it for granted
that no such implication was in
tended, but regards it Is evident that
the ambassador is laboring under GER
tain false Impressions.
A. This government has at no time
and in no manne yielded any n
OF its rights as q neutral to any of the
present belligerents.
s. 1t has insisted upon the use Of
visit and search Is an absolutely
necessary safeguard against mistaking
neutral vessels for enemy vessels and
against mistaking legal cargoes for IL
legal.
6. Beyond the right to visit and
search and that Of blockade, the
United States has conceded nothing.
q. Our diplomatic correspondence
has shown u steadfast refusal to
acknowledge the right Of any belliger-
emit to alter the accepted rules of war
at sea, in so far AZ they affect the
rights and interests OF neutrals.
8. The United States holds that any
change in its own laws Of neutral
ity during the progress Of q wal,
which would affect unequally the re-
lations OF the United States with the
nations at war, would be an unjusti-
fable departure from the principle of
strict neutrality by which 1t has con-
sistently sought to direct its actions.
8. None Of the circumstances ad-
vanced by the ambassador in his
memorandum alters the principle in
volved.
10. Imposition Of an embargo on the
trade in arms at the present time
would be a direct violation Of the neu-
trality of the United States.
II. It Is out of the question for the
American government to consider
such q course.
II. The neutrality of the United
States is founded upon the firm basis
of conscience and good will.