The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-22
Continued from First Page.

state II again. This seems to me the
more necessary and desirable be-
cause, ] regret to say. the language
which your Excellency employs In
your memorandum is susceptible OF
being construed as impugnng the
good faith OF the United States in
the performance Of its duties as a
neutral. I take IL for granted that
no such implication was intended.
but II IL 30 evident that your Ex-
cellency IL laboring under certain
false impressions that | cannot he
too explicit In setting forth the facts
as they are when fully reviewed and
comprehended.
No Rights Yielded.
In the frst place this Government
has at no time and in no manner
yielded any one ~ Its rights as q
neutral 10 any Of the present belllg.
rrcnts. n has acknowledged rs q
matter Of course the right OF visit
ana search and the right TO apply
the rules Of cOntraband OF war TO
articles Of commerce.
II has indeed insisted upon the
use of visit and search as an ahso-
lutely necessary safeguard against
MISLEADING neutral vessels for vessels
owned by an enemy and against
MISLEADING 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 neutr.l COM
merce on the high seas.
But nothing beyond these has II
IL A. - H.. -.
attention TO this. knowing IL IL al
ready known to all the world as a
consequence of the publication Of
our correspondence In regard to the
matters with several OF the belliger-
ert nations. because cannot as
sumo that you have official cogni-
zance of il.
In the second place this Govern
ment attempted to secure from the
German and British Governments
mutual concessions with regard to
the measure those Governments re-
spectively adopted for the Interrupt
ton OF trade on the high seas. This
Il did not OF right. but merely az
exercising the privileges OF sin
cere friend OF both parties and az
indicating its impartial good will.
Act showed 4. =. spirit.
Tho attempt was unsuccessful;
but regret that your Excellency
did not deem II worthy OF mention
in modification OF the impressions
YOU expressed. We had hoped that
this act on our part had shown our
spirit In these times of distressing
war az our diplomatic experience
had shown our steadfast refusal TO
acknowledge the right OF any bel
ligerent to alter the accepted rules
OF war al sea in so far as they af-
feet the rights and interests OF neu-
trails.
In the third place note with sim
reNe resret that in discussing the
sale and expectation OF arms by
citizens OF the United States to the
enemies OF Germany your Excel
lency seems 10 be under the impress
sion that IL was within the choice OF
the Government OF the United
States. knowing its professed neu-
trality and its diligent efforts TO
maintain II in other particulars, 10
inhibit this trade and that Its failure
10 do so manifested an unfair attl-
tude toward Germany.
This Government holds, as be-
lieve your ENceIlency Is aware and
az II is constrained TO hold IN view
OF the present indlsputable doc
trines OF accepted international law.
that any change in its own laws OF
neutrality during the progress OF
war which would affect uneuually
the relations OF the United States
with the nations at war would be
an unjustlfiable departure from the
principle OF strict neutrality, by
which II has consistently sought to
direct It's actions. and I respect.
fully submit that none OF the cir
cumstances urged in your Excel
lercys memorandum alters the
principle involved.
Embargo violation.
The placing OF an embargo on the
trade In arms at the present time
would constitute such a change and
he n direct violation OF the neu.
traiity OF the United states. II
viii, I feel assured. he clear 10 your
Fxcelirncy that holding this view,
and considering Itself in honor
hound by II, II Is out Of the ques.
tion for this Government 10 con.
slider suCh q course.
hope that your Excellency will
realize the spirit in which l am
drafting this reply TIE friend
ship between the people OF the
United States and the people OF
Germany IL so warm and OF such
long standing. the ties which bind
them 10 ono another in amIty are
so many and so strong. that hts
Government is under special
compulsion to speak with perfect
rrankness when any occasion arises
which seems likely to create any
misunderstanding, however slight or
temporary, between those who rep