Evening star., 1915-01-07
Time Will Reveal Truth.


the truth may be impartialIy deter
mined. and when the judgment of the
world will be passed upon the charges
made by the various belligerents of
violations of the rules of civilized war
fare.
your excellency also states that the
British government has ordered from
the Winchester Repeating Arms Com
pany 10000 riot guns model 1897, and
50,00O,600 'buckshot cartridges for use
in such guns. This department. saw a
published statement of the Winchester
company, the correctness of which the
company has confirmed to. the depart
ment by telegraph. In this statement
the company categorically denies that
and cartridges FROM or made any sale
of such material to the British gov
ernment, or to any other government
engaged in the present war.
Mushroom Bullet Charge.
"Your excellency further calls atten-
tion to fnformation.>t 1.-The accuracy of
which is not to be doubted that S.000,-
900 cartridges, fitted with mushroom
bullets have been delivered since Oc-
tober of this year by the Union Metal
lie Cartridge Company for the arma-
ment of the English army.
to the letter of December 10. 1914. of
the Remington Arms-Union Metallic
Cartridge Company of New York to
your excellency, called forth by GER
tain newspaper reports of statements
alleged to have been made by you in
regard to the sale by that company of
soft-nosed bullets. From this letter, a
COPY of which was sent to this depart
ment by the company. it appears that
instead of 100000 cartridges having
been sold, only a little over $4,000
were manufactured and 100000 were
sold The letter further asserts that
these cartridges were made to supply
demand for better sporting cartridge
with a soft-nosed bullet than had been
manufact ctured heretofore; and that such
cartridges cannot be used in the mill
tary rifle of any foreign power. The
company adds that its statement can
be substantiated and that it is ready
to give you any evidence that you may
require on these points.
Has List of Buyers.
The Department is now in receipt
from the company of complete de-
tailed list of the persons to whom these
cartridges were sold. From this list 1t
appears that the cartridges were sold to
firms in lots of 20 to 1000 and one lot
each of 5000, 1000 and 5000. Of these
only $50 cartridges went to British
North America and 100 to British East
Africa.
"If. however, you can furnish the de-
partment with evidence that this or any
other company are manufacturing ana
selling for the use of the contendlng
armies in Europe cartridges whose use
would contravene The Hague convention,
the government would be glad to be
furnished with the evidence.
Presidents Position.
The President directs me to inform you
that. in case any American company is
shown to be engaged in this traffic. he
will use his influence to prevent. so far
as possible, sales of such ammunition to
the powers engaged in the European
war. without regard to whether 1t is the
duty of this government upon legal or
grounds to take such ac-
ton.
"In view of the publicity which has
been given to your excellency's complaint
addressed. to the department In these mat
ters, it is taken for granted that there
can be no objection on your part to
equal publicity being given to this note
and the letter of the Union Metallic
Cartridge Company, addressed to you on
December 10, 1914
Accept, excellency, the renewed as |
surances of my highest consideration"