The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-22


go Illinois Central ............. %.
f2o0 Int. Metropolitan ........... 2
the memorandum was really an APP
peal to the American people it has
been most effectually answered by the
people in the unanimous condemna-
ton heaped on the memorandum by
the American press
Here Is the note handed by Score
tary Bryan TO Count Won BcrnstorT
the German ambassador.
'ENceIleucy;
4 have given thoughtful considera-
ton 10 Your ENcellencv's note of the
4th OF April. 1915, enclosing a memo
randum Of the same date IN which Your
ENcellency discusses the action of this
government with regard to trade he
tween the United states and Germany.
and the attitude Of this government
with regard TO the expectation OF arms
from the United states To the nations
now at war with GERMANY
II must admit that l am somewhat
at n loss how to interpret our FIX
cellency's treatment OF these matters
There are many circumstances con-
nected with these important subjects TO
which ] would have expected Your
EEcellency TO advert but Of which YOU
make no mention and there are other
circumstances to which YOU do refer
which would have supposed to be
hardly appropriate for discussion he
tween the government Of the United
States and the government of Ger
many,
Il shall take the liberty therefore.
OF regarding -FOUR ENcenency's refer
ehces to the course pursued BY the
government Of the United states with
regard to intorfereuces with trade from
this country. such as the government OF
Great Britain have ATTEMPTED, as in
tended merely to illustrate more fully
the situation to which Won desire to
call our attention, and not as an in
vitatiou to discuss that course Your
ExcellencSs long experience iu inter-
national affairs VIII have suggested 10
you that the relations of the two
governments with one another cannot
wisely be made a subject Of discussion
with third government which cannot
be fully informed as TO the facts and
which cannot be fully cognizant of the
reasons for the course pursued
A Diplomatic stroke.
] believe, however that am rus,i-
fed in assuming that what You desire
To call forth is n frank statement of
the position Of this government In re-
gard TO its obligations as a neutral
power. The general attitude sand
course of policy of this government in
the maintenance of its neutrality. /
am particularly anxious that Your Ex-
cellency should see in their true light
/ had hoped that this governments
position In these respects had been
made abundantly clear but / am. of
course, perfectly willing TO state IL
again. This seems to me the mora
necessary and desirable because I re-
gret 10 say the language which Your
EXcellenCy employs in your memo-
randum is susceptible of being con-
stFued as impugning the good faith
of the United states in the perform
ance Of its duties as neutral. / take
1t for granted that no such implication
WAS intended, but II is so evident that
Your EXcenency il laboring under
certain false Impressions that | can
not be too explicit in setting forth the
facts as they are when fully reviewed
; and Comprehended
, Has Sicitied No Neutral Rights.
In the first place. this government
has, at no time, and In no manner
, yielded any one of its rights as a neu-
, tral to any OF the present belligerents
1t 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. 1t has. indeed, insisted upon
the use Of visit and search as an alb
soluteiy necessary safeguard against
| mtstaking neutral vessels for vessels
owned by an enemy. and against mis-
taking legal Cargoes for Illegal. 1t was
admitted also the right of blockade,
; II actually exercised and effectively
| maintained. Thes. are merely the
: we'll known limitations which war
places upon neutral commerce on the
high seas. Bat nothing beyond these
has it conceded. | call Your Excel
lency's attention to- this. knowing il
Is already known To all the world as
n hn ~ ign to-. -
our correspondence in regard to the
matters with several Of the belligerent
nations, because / cannot assume that
!you have official cognizance OF 1t.
Acts as Mutual Friend.
In the second place. this government
attempted to secure from the German
and British governments mutual con-
cessions with regard to the measures
those governments, respectively. adopt
ed for the interruption of trade on the
high seas This it did not of right,
but merely as exercising the privileges
of a sincere friend of both parties, and
as indicating its impartial good will
The attempt was unsuccessful; but |
regret that Your ExcelIency did not
deem IL worthy of mention in modfica-
ton of the Impressions you expressed.
We had hoped that this act on our
part hod shown our spirit In these
times of distressing war; as our dipio-
matte experience had shown our stead
fast refusal to acknowledge the right
OF any belligerent to alter the accepted
rules of war at sea- in so far as they
affect the rights and interests OF neu-
trails.
As Munitions of War
In the third place, note with sim
cere regret that in discussing the sale
and expectation of arms by citizens of
the United States to the enemies of
IS