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The Commoner
MAY, 1915
13
'. . -
ment because tho latter enacted a similar policy
toward Mexico. On February 4, 1914, Presi
dent Wilaon, according to a statement of a rep
resentative in congress in tho committee for
foreign affairs of December 30, 1914, upon lift
ing of the embargo on arms to Mexico, declared
that "we should stand for genuine neutrality,
considering the surrounding facts of the case
." He then held that "in that case, be
cause Carranza had no ports, while Huerta had
them and was able to import these materials,
that it was our duty as a nation to treat (Car
ranza and Huerta) upon an equality if we wish
ed to observe the true spirit of neutrality as
compared with a mere paper neutrality."
If this view were applied to the present case,
it would lead to an embargo on the exportation
of arms.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GER
MAN AMBASSADOR
Department of Stater
No. 1379. Washington, April 21, 1915.
Excellency:
I have given thoughtful consideration to Your
Excellency's note of the 4th of April, 1915, en
closing a memorandum of the same date, in
which Your Excellency discusses the action of
this government with regard to trade between
the United States and Germany and the attitude
of this- government with regard to the exporta
tion of arms from the United States to the na
tions now at war with Germany.
I must admit that I am somewhat at a loss
how to interpret Your Excellency's treatment of
these matters. There are many circumstances
connected with these important subjects to
which I would have expected Your Excellency
to advert, but of. which you make no mention,
and there are other circumstances to which you
do refer which. I would have supposed to be
hardly appropriate for discussion between the
government of the United States and the gov
ernment of Germany.
I shall take the liberty, therefore, of regard
ing Your Excellency's references to the course
pursued by the government of the United States
with regard to interferences with trade from this
country such as the government of Great Britain
have attempted, as intended merely to illustrate
mpre fully the situation to which you desire to
call our attention, and not as an invitation to
discuss that course. Your Excellency's long ex
perience in international affairs will have sug
gested to you that the relations of the two gov
ernments with one another can not be wisely
made a subject of discussion with a third gov
ernment, which can not be fully informed as to
the facts, and which can not be fully cognizant
of the reasons for the course pursued. I believe,
however, that I am justified in assuming that
what yon desire to call forth is a frank state-
ment of the position of. this government in re
gard to its obligations as a neutraL power. The
general attitude and course of policy of this
government in the maintenance of its neutrality
I am particularly anxious that Your Excellency
should see in their true light. I had hoped
that this government's position in these respects
had been made abundantly clear, but I am of
course perfectly willing to state it again. This
seems to me the more necessary and desirable
-because, I regret to say, the language which
Your Excellency employs in your memorandum
is susceptible of being construed as impugning
the good faith of the United States in the per
formance of its duties as a neutral. I take it
for granted that no such implication was intend
ed, but it is so- evident that Your Excellency Is
laboring under certain false impressions that I
can not be too explicit in setting forth the facts
as they are, when fully reviewed and compre
hended. In the first place, this government has at no
time and in no manner yielded any one of its
rights as a neutral to any of the present bellig
erents. 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 commerce. It has, indeed, insisted
upon the use of visit and search as an absolutely
necessary safeguard against mistaking neu
tral vessels for vessels owned by an enemy and
against mistaking legal cargoes for illegal, it
has admitted also the right of blockade if actu
ally exercised and effectively maintained. These
are merely the well-known limitations which
war places upon neutral commerce on the high
seas. But nothing beyond these has it con
ceded. I call Your Excejlency's attention to this,
notwithstanding it is already known to ail the
world as a consequence of the publication of
our correspondence in regard to these matters
with several of tho belligerent nations, because
I can not assume that you have official cogniz
ance of it.
In the second place, this government attempt
ed to secure from the Gorman and British gov
ernments mutual concessions with regard to tho
measures those governments respectively adopt
ed for the interruption of trade on tho high sens.
This it did, not of right, but merely as exercising
the privileged a sincere friend of both parties
and as indicating its impartial good will. Tho
attempt was unsuccessful; but I regret that
Your Excellency did not deem it worthy of men
tion in modification of the impressions you ex
pressed. We had hoped that this act on our part
had shown our spirit in these times of distress
ing war as our diplomatic correspondence had
shown our steadfast refusal to acknowledge tho
right o any belligerent to alter the accepted
rules of war at sea in so far as they affect tho
rights and interests of neutrals.
In the third place, I note with sincere regret
that, in discussing tho sale and exportation of
arms by citizens of the United States to tho en
emies of Germany, Your Excellency seems to bo
under the impression that it was within the
choice of the government of tho United States,
notwithstanding its professed neutrality and its
diligent efforts to maintain it in other particu
lars, to inhibit this trade, and that its failure to
do so manifested an unfair attitude toward
Germany. This government holds, as I beliovo
Your Excellency is aware, and as it is con
strained to hold in view of the present indis
putable doctrines of accepted international law,
that any change in its own laws of neutrality
during tho progress of a war which would affect
unequally tho rotations of tho United State wltk
tho nations at war would bo an unjustifiable de
parture from tho principle of strict neutrality
by which it has consistently sought to direct its
actions, and I respectfully submit that none of
tho circumstances urged in Your Excellency's
memorandum alters the principle Involved. The
placing of an embargo on tho trade In arms at
tho present time would constitute such a change
and be a direct violation of tho neutrality of the
United States. It will, I feel assured, bo clear
to Your Excellency that, holding this view and
considering itself in honor bound by it, it Is out
of the question for this government to consider
such a course.
I hope that Your Excellency will realize the
spirit in which I am drafting this reply. The
friendship between tho people of the Unite!
States and the pcoplo of Germany is so warm
and of such long standing, tho ties which bind
them to one another in amity are so many and
so strong, that this government feels under a
special compulsion to speak with perfect frank
ness when any occasion arises which scorns like
ly to create any misunderstanding, however
slight or temporary, betwoen those who repre
sent the governments of the two countries. It
will be a matter of gratification to mo If I have
removed from Your Excellency's mind any mis
apprehension you may have been under regard
ing either tho policy or tho spirit and purposes
of tho government of tho United States. Its
neutrality is founded upon the firm basis of con
science and good will.
Accept, etc.,
W. J. BRYAN.
Prosperity With Democratic Rule
Summary of address of Hon. William C. Red
field, secretary of commerce, at Indianapolis,
Ind., April 28, 1915, before a meeting of repre
sentatives of Indiana manufacturing interests:
When I undertook a few days ago to prepare
for speaking to you this evening I found on my
desk two statements which seemed such as would
interest you. One was in the morning paper for
the day, a paper, by the way, not politically
friendly to the administration. From its front
page I quote these words:
"Expressing his firm conviction that the
United States Is on tho high road to prosperity,
Judge Elbert H, Gary, chairman of the United
States steel corporation, told its stockholders at
their annual meeting in Hoboken today that the
position of this country in finance, industry, and
commerce Is better than ever before in its his
tory." A little further along Judge Gary Is quoted
as saying:
"Our position among the nations of the world
is taking the lead. Finance, Industry, and com
merce are better today than ever before."
It should be understood that these words are
not my own, nor are they taken from any par
tisan statement or even from a democratic news
paper. It will not be claimed that they come
from any source prejudiced in favor of the dem
ocratic policy. I quote them not to criticize
Judge Gary; on the contrary, to commend him
for stating with frankness facts patent to all
men of vision at the time when little minds and
weak eyes dwell on vanishing troubles and prat
tle parochial politics as if that were statesman
ship. The other paper on my desk that morning was
the statement of a prominent professional stu
dent of business, not connected with any party
organization, a dispassionate and calm observer
of commercial affairs. In his circular I find
theso words:
"Optimistic sentiment is finally developing in
to real business improvement. The
great Industrial centers, are awakening after a
long sleep. Almost without exception manufac
turing lines are picking up. All
lines connected with the building Industry show
improvement. The outlook grows
steadily better. We sre now the most
favorably situated of any nation on the face of
the earth, and in addition to a gradual improve
ment in this country we have the opportunity to
develop our foreign trade as never before. Let
every merchant and manufacturer take courage."
Again let it be noted these are not my words,
nor do they come by any path however indirect
from any source remotely connected with the ad
ministration. They are tho calm statement of a,
trained and impartial observer. Mr. William C.
Van Antwerp, governor of Now York Stock Ex
change, is reported to have said:
"American business life is today built on more
solid foundations than ever It was; Its moral
framework is baaed on character and the golden
rule. as never before. I firmly believe that the
next ten years are to be the best years of our
lives best because freest from greed and selfish
ness best because fullest of moral and material
profit."
Must one be a democrat in politics to bo glad
of these things? I can not. and do not believe
that it is so. Can It bo possible that any group
of men for partisan purposes or political prefer
ment would minimize or conceal such facts as
these? Do not all among us want to believe that
Judge Gary speaks the plain truth and that the
other authorities whom I quote know whereof
they speak? Is it possible that there are among
us any whose courage has so fallen away or
whoso partisanship is so passionate that they
would even In thought assent to the country's be
ing held back that they might clamber Into office
over the shoulders of those who for that precious
purpose they are willing should be down and
out?
I do not think so ill of your great state, ray
friends, as to believe that among its intelligent
citizenship there can long survive the preacher
of pessimism as regards our beloved country. If
there be such among you, however, go, mark
them well,
"For them no minstrel's raptures swell."
These purveyors of poverty for personal pur
poses will In due time go to their own places ua
wept, unhonored, and unsung, followed by the
deserved curses of the decelvedr falling into the
limbo of tho calamity howler where long ago the
muckraker preceded them. These are they wh
in secret places speak evil of those who have
brought tho country through the most terrible
commercial shock in its history and landed her
safe and strong upon the peaceful shores of pros
perity and Influence.
One does not object to criticism when one thus
speaks, but there are two kinds of the thing which,
men call criticism. The one deals with truth 1a
frank and manly fashion with men in like sietk
oCL It is constructive, It hates a He and would,
not take false or unfair advantage for the sake
of reward or gain. It is an open, candid, fraak,
and helpful thing. God forbid that there should
!
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