Imperial Valley press., 1915-04-29
. ERMANY AND AMERICA.

German ambassador in sending note to Secretary Bryan
the subject of shipment of material containing an
impeachment of the honor Of this government The Press
has high regard for the German people at home and In this
country, but it believes it has right to expect Germans
in America to be Americans and to uphold the American
government When the German minister appealed to the
German population in this country against the American
government for its attitude shipment Of material
and tried to force this country into policy that violates
International law, he made serious mistake and ought
not be followed in this by Germans who have adopted this
country as their future home.
Nothing has lately stirred the newspapers of Amer
lea more than this act of the German ambassador.
1t is recognized principle Of international law that
nation at has the right to buy material from
nation at peace To deny to the Allies this right would be
to overthrow international law.
Won Bernstorff himself admits this He says: THE
United States of America is the ony country in position
to export material This fact ought to give new
meaning to the idea of neutrality INDEPENDENT OF
THE FORMAL LAW"
That is he would have us refuse to sell goods the
Allies in violation of formal law" based on our treaties
with the Allies and other nations.
He finds but one alleged precedent for thisthe re-
fusal to sell to the warning factions of Mexico But that
is precedent for Of the factions recognized
the government Of Mexico In the eyes OF international
law there is nothing but brigandage in Mexico.
President Wilson and his cabinet are doing their ut
most preserve the neutrality OF this country under the
law of nations and it is the duty Of every resident of this
country matter what his nationality to support the
American government in this
The Press has said and now repeats that great pa
tence should be shown in this country for those who in
Europe brought under tremendous pressure by
the We should make allowance for the excitement
incident to the struggle.
But should of us forget that in this country
we are Americans and allegiance to the Amer
government and not to any king or emperor or car
or kaiser
In the Progress this morning George Herr "a Ger
by birth and American by choice" to the
defense of the German ambassador in his attack the
American government and cites embargoes by this gov
ernment against shipment of during the French
ouon and several other times where special occasions
such as that of Mexico arose
He also states that Germany stopped shipment Of
arms Spanish ports during with SPAIN and the
Press is referred to John Basset Moores work in
ternationa law
1t is unnecessary make such reference for Ambas-
sador Won BelnStorff quoted above admits the law
which allows shipment.
Mr. Herr says: "In conclusion the writer would like
to remind the esteemed writer Of the Press that this
is neutral country and to bring out editorials that are
apt poison the minds of people against the gov
ernment of any country at is to be considered
neutral act and against the true American spirit
The Press has desire to poison any mind against
Germany, but when Won Bernstorff undertook to poison
American minds against the American government it be-
came the duty of every American citizen and newspaper
to uphold the government and these the words in
which of the foremost American papers, regardless
OF party supporting the government:
Baltimore American-When any foreigndi-
rected cOterie cabal secure alignment of
the American people against their head in mat
ers of serious international import, they may
write down the American government fail
It will not be written down at present.
But the German ambassador is surely and GER
tainy writing himself down as a failure through
his efforts to antagonize the American Washing
ton administration through the American people
New York Tribune--Count Won Bernstorff
may think it worth while to foment opposition to
administration which general grounds has
lost popularity, but whether it is popular or not
the people are behind the present administration
in insisting that foreign agents and foreign in
erests keep out of the arena of domestic politics
The further he goes on the path which he seems
inclined to follow the it will be for him per-
sonaly and for Gemanys case in this country
Boston 1ranscript-lt is military maxim
that the bearer of flag Of truce forfets his safe
conduct If he presumes to treat with an army save
through its commander. By parity it may be held
that ambassador who presllmes to treat with