New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25
Continued from page l

neutral. 10 prevent contrabsnd from
reaching an enemy Those IN TINS
country who sympathize with Germany
and Austria-HunGary appear to assume
that some obligation rests upon tnls
government, in the performance OF ITS
neutral duty. 20 prevent all trade IN
coutraband, and thus TO equallze the
difference due TO the relative naval
strength of the bolliGcrcnts. No such
obligation exists: il would be an IN
neutral act. an act Of Partially on the
part Of this government. TO adopt such
a policy If the Executive had the
power 20 do so.
IF Germany and Austria Hungary
cannot import contraband from this
country. il is not, because OF this fact,
the duty Of the United States 10 close
its markets TO the Allies. The markets
OF this country are open upon equal
terms 10 all the world. 20 every nation
bclliCerent or neutral
During the course OF the letters dis
cussion Of the various charges made,
the following facts, hitherto undls-
closed. were revealed for the first
time:
That the Canadian government re-
Gently asked the United States for per-
mission 10 ship war equipment across
Alaska 10 the sea and the request was
refused.
Offending Government Warned.
That the United States has brought
20 the attention Of an offending gov
vcrnmcnt" the searching OF an Amerl-
can vessel for German and Austrian
subjects. with a declaration that such
procedure, i true. is an unWarrantcd
exercise o. jurisdiction over American
vessels, I'm which this government VIII
not acquiesce." The government TO
whom this declaration has been made
is not stated in the letter, but the IN
cident is known 10 relate to the search
by a boarding crew from french
cruiser Of an American ship plying be-
tween two ports i'm Colombia, when, 1t
is alleged. some German passengers
were forced TO sign promise not TO
participate i'm the war. II was this oc-
curreuce which led TO a warning speech
Nv Senator Stone 10 the belhgerents
against such searches Of American
ships.
That sharp representations also were
made TO another of the allied govern
ments because search was conducted
on the high seas on an American snip
for German and Austrian passengers.
The name Of the vessel or offending
government was not revealed.
That on December 10 last, the Ger
man Ambassador, by direction OF his
government, delivered 4 memorandum
10 the United States government stat
+ ing that under the general principles
/ Of international lay no exception can
/ be taken TO neutral states letting war
material go 20 Gcrmany's enemies from
for al
That representations were made 10
both Japan and Great Britain against
the continued presence Of their war
ships of American ports and that the
protests were In each case needed.
That since the announcement Of the
Washington governments disapproval
of war loans. none has been made by
foreign governments in this country.
A distinction is drawn officially for the
first time between loans hoated by
popular subscription and large credit
/ transactions for the purchase OF war
supplies. the State Department reveal
I ing that il has no objection to the lat
ter.
10 Discrimination.
In a general way the letter sets forth
that rules Of neutrality have been pro-
+ r1uIpated bv the American government
. without discrimination and have been
applied with equal fairness to all con-
ccrncd. Il cites instances OF violations
tv Germany and Great Britain, and as
serts that protests have been unhesi-
tatingly entered regardless OF the coun-
+ try offending.
/ Complaints as summarized by SEN
ator Stone are answered IN the letter
point by point. substantially as iol-
/ lows: . !,
submarine cables versus censored com
r,unication by wireless" 1t IS set
/ rorth first that a wireless station on a
/ reu+ra1 coast cannot be Interrupted by
/ q belligerent. but the latter has an un-
restricted right to cut cable on the
+ high seas. Germanys cutting OF the
/ British cable near Tanning Island IS
cited 10 balance Great Britain's inter-
ception of the cable between Germany
and the United States. The point Is
made that wireless messages can pe
+ sent direct 10 warships at sea whlch
/ can prey upon public or private yes
/ sells and make neutral territory virtu-
/ allv a base Of naval operations, 70
permit which would be essentially uu-
/ neutral"
?. Censorship OF mails and in some
cases repeated destruction Of American
letters on neutral vessel Germany
and Great Britain. pursuing their rights
as beligerents. both have censored pri-
waite letters falling into their hands. NO
evidence has ever been presented TO
the State Department that mail on
hoard Dutch steamers has been de-
stroyed, as repeatedly charged. Only
/ few cases have come 20 the attention
Of the department where mail from
neutral countries has not been finally
delivered.
Search for Rcservists.
3. Searching Of American vessels
for German and Austrian subjects on
/ the high seas and in territorial waters
+ OF a belligCrent." Neutral vessels vol
! unfairly entering territorial waters or