The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-22
VON BERNSTORFF REBUKED IN SHARP NOTE FROM U. s.
 UNFOLDING EXPORT OF ARMS

nance of it's duties as 8 neutral. take it for granted that no such impIt- cation was intended. but it is so evil dent that your Excel1ency is laboring under certain false impressions that cannot be too explicit in setting forth the facts as they are when fully reviewed and comprehended.
 No Rights Yielded.
 In the first place this government has at no time and in no manner yielded any one of its rights as neu- tra1 to any of the present belligerents- It has acknowledged as a. matter of course the right of visit and search and the right to apply. the rules of contraband of war to articles of com merce.
 It has indeed insisted upon the use of visit and search as an absolutely necessary safeguard against nistak- ing neutral vessels for vessels own ed by an enemy and against 1nistaktng legal cargoes for illegal. It has ad- mitted also the right of blockade, if actually exercised and effectively maintained. These are merely the we'll known limitations which war places upon neutral commerce on the high seas.
 But nothing beyond these has it conceded. I call your ExcelIency's attention to this. knowing it is already known to all the world as conse- quence, of the publication of our cor respondence in regard to the matters with several of the beIligerent nations, because I cannot assume that you have official cognizance of it.
 In the second place this Govern ment attempted to secure from the German and British Governments mutual concessions with regard to the measures those Governments respec- lAg- ~R trade on the high seas. This 1t did not of right, but merely as exercising the privileges of a sincere friend of both parties and as indicating its inn partial good will.
 Act Showed U. s. Spirit.
 The attempt was unsuccessful; but regret that your Excellency did not deem it worthy of mention in modih- cation of the impressions you ex- pressed. We. had hoped that this act on our part had shown our spirit in these times of distressing war as our diplomatic experience had shown our steadfast refusal to acknowledge the right of any bel1igerent to alter the ac- cepted rules of war at sea in so far as they affect the rights and interests of IneutraIs.
 Tn the third place, note with sim cere regret that in discussing the sale and exportation of arms by citizens 1 of the United States to the enemies of t Germany your ExcelIency seems to be under the impression that 1t was with in the choice of the Government of the United States, knowing it's pro fessed neutrality and it's di1igent ef- forts to maintain it in other particu- lars, to inhfbit this trade and that it's | failure to; do so manifested an unfair | attitude toward Germany. l This Government holds, as be- Elieve your Excellency is aware, and as it is constrained to hold in view of the present indisputable doctrines of accepted ibternaticnal law, that any change in it's own laws of neutrality during the progress of a war which would affect unequa1ly the relations o1 the United States with the nations al war would be an unJustthable depar- ture from the principle of strict neu- trality, by which it has consistently sought to direct it's actions, and I res Epectful1y submit that none of the cir cumstances urged in your Excellency's memorandum alters the principle in lvoIved.