Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-25
German Protest Is to Be
Ignored by the United
States Government
BRYAN ISSUES A NOTE
Not Province CT the Nation to
Show PartiaIity to Power
Weaker on Water.

Washington. d. c. Jan. 25.-On mo-
ton OF Senator stone today, the letter
from Secretary Bryan defending the
governments Interpretation OF its
rights and duties as a neutral in the
present war was made part of the
Congressional Record. Bryan's letter,
drawn after talk with the president
and legal officials of the government,
was the administration answer to
those who have been charging that
the American governments neutrality
Disseminated against Germany and
Austria No republicans objected 10
it going into the record and it will be
printed as a public document
Bryan in his letter summarized the
popular misconception on this point
and said the superiority thus far of
the British navy had been responst-
bic for the inability OF Germany and
Austria TO fare as well as their op-
ponents in the matter of ammunition
and contraband. While the letter was
devoted mainly to an answer to crit
icism. it pointed out several features
of the administration policies hither-
10 unexplained
The government has now announced |
itself as opposed to legislation prohib- /
iting the export of munitions of war. !
The letter also reveals that the gov /!
ernment has taken the position that .
IT cannot permit the belIigerents 10 |
remove from American ships on the
nigh seas any passengers. though they
be Austrians or Germans, nor can
promises be extorted from them not
to engage in war
5000 Word Document.
Washington, D. c.. Jan. 25.-The
United States government yesterday
issued a lengthy defense Of its inter
pretation of the rights and duties or
q neutral in the European war.
4 document 5000 words long, pre-
pared by President Wilson, Secretary
Bryan and Counselor Robert Lansing
of the state department after several
days of consultation. was made public
in the form of a letter from the secre.
tary of state to Senator Stone of Mis-.
tee on foreign relations.
While the letter is a reply to an in
qUiry from Senator Stone for infOrma-
ton as a result of complaints made in
the press and in letters from various ,
parts of the country charging the +
government with unfair T
ness to Germany and Austria, II also
IS intended as a pronouncement Of ,
policy on some questions of neutrality
previously unexplained.
After answering 19 separate and ,
specific charges and calling attention +
10 the fact that the United States has :
promptly taken to task Great Britain ,
as we'll as Germany and every govern
men which in any way has infringed f
Ipon the lights os this country the a
etter concludes with the following
on the much discussed y
question Of expectation of war muni-
ions 9
England Superior at Sea.
IF any American citizens. parti-
ans of Germany and Austria-Hun S
gary. feel that this administration is a
cting in a way injurious TO the cause 5
# those countries. this feeling results
rom the fact that on the high seas
he German and Austro-Hungarian b
laval power is thus far inferior 70 the
British. 1t is the business of a bel f
igerent operating on the high seas, il
ot the duty of a neutral, to prevent
ontra band from reaching an enemy. 8
Those in this country who sympa- d
hize with Germany and Austria-HUn- v
arv appear ID assume that some obli- r.
alton rests upon this government. in n
ne performance OF its neutral duty,
D prevent all trade in contraband and s,
nus TO equalize the difference due TO a
he relative naval strength of the bel II
gereuts. No such obligation exists; :
would be an unneutral act, an act V
I partially on the part OF this gov ci
rnment, to adopt such policy, if thc
xecutive had the power TO do so.
If Germany and Austria Hungary
annot import contraband from this OF
ountry it is not. because of this fact. 81
le duty OF the United States TO close n
5 markets TO the allies. The markets Il
{ this country are open upon equal al
rms u all the world. TO every nation. as
elligeren, or neutral" IeC