Show EXPORTATION OF ARMS DEFENDED BY WILSON Answer to German Ambassadors Ambassador's Criticism Criticism Criticism cism of American Attitude Penned 4 by the President I I II April 21 The The United Unite States government replied today V V to the recent memorandum in which lich Count von Bernstorff the German ambassador or declared that if the American people desire to observe true truc neutrality they win will find means to fo stop the c exclusive c importation of jf arms armsto armsto I I Ito to one one- side or at least to use this export trade as n a a means to uphold the I legitimate trade trado with Germany especially the trade in foodstuffs The American note which is signed by Secretary Bryan was drafted dm ted at the state stafe department but was finally penned by President Wilson himself I I I Criticism Coune Surprise The text of tho the note n s Excellency 5 T I 1 have given thoughtful tion to your excellency's note of ot the of or April 1915 1916 enclosing a a. memorandum memorandum memo memo- of the same date In which your our excellency dl discusses cusses the action of or this tills government with regard retard to trade trado between be between between be be- tween the United States and G Germany and the attitude of this government with regard to the exportation of arms armstrom from the United States to the nations now nov at war with Germany Gerran I I must admit that I am somewhat at ata ata excellency's a a. loss how to interpret your our cy's cys CS treatment of or these matters There are man many circumstances connected with these important subjects to which 1 I would have e expected your our excellency to advert but of or which you ou make no mention mention mention men men- tion and there are other circumstances to to which you ou do do refer which I would have supposed to be bo hardly appropriate for r discussion between the thc government s of oC the United States and the government government government govern govern- ment of Germany German I shall take the liberty therefore oC of regarding your our excellency's refer references s to the course pursued by the government gov gov- e of or the tha United States with re regard regard regard re- re gard to Interferences with trade from Crom this country such as the government go of or Groat Britain have ha attempted as In Intended intended In- In tended merely to illustrate more moro fully the tho situation to which you desire to call our att attention and not as an invitation to discuss that that course Your excellenCy's excellency's excellency's cys cy's Jon long experience In International affairs af- af fairs will have suggested to you ou that the r relations o of the t two o go with one one another cannot wisely b be made madea a a. subject of or discussion with a third Rov government which c cannot be fully In Informed informed In- In formed as to o the he facts and which cannot cannot can can- annot an- an not not be bo fully cognizant of or the reasons for Cor the he course pu pursued sued S Corrects Misapprehension I 1 believe however that I am am justified justi justi- fied l d In In assuming that what you OU desire to call forth I is a n frank Crank statement of the tho position oC this government t in regard to Its Its' obligations as ns a 0 neutral power The attitude and course of ot polIcy policy pol pol- icy of or this government go in the maintenance nanco nance of Its neutrality I am particularly particular particular- that excellency should ly h anxious your our see In their true light lIS I had hoped that this tills governments government's position In these respects had been made mado abundantly clear but I am nm of or course perfectly willIng willIng willIng will- will Ing to state It again ns This seems to me metho metho metho tho more necessary and desirable because because be be- cause I 1 regret to say sa the language lanS' which your our excellency employs In iii your OUr memorandum is susceptible of or being construed as impugning the good faith of the United States In the performance of ot It Its duties 5 as a a. neutral I take It for granted that no such Implication was intended but It Is so evident that your excellency Is laboring under certain false Impressions that I cannot be too explicit In setting forth the facts atho as a tho they are arc when fully reviewed and comprehended e Holt to All Neutral Rights Right In In the first place this go government eminent has at no time and in no manner yielded any anyone one of Its rights as a neutral neutral neutral neu neu- to any an one ono of or the present ants It has his acknowledged ed as ft a matter matter matter mat mat- ter of curse course the right ht of visit and search and the tho right light to apply the tho rule rules I I of contraband of f war to articles of commerce It hb has Indeed insisted upon uon the use of or visit and search learch as an nn absolutely lute necessary safeguard against mistaking ails mis taking neutral vessels for tor vessels owned b by an enem enemy and against mistakinG mistaking mistaking mis mis- taking legal cargoes for Cor illegal It has admitted also the rJ right ht of ot blockade if IC actually exorcised and nud effectively eh m main main- tamed These are arc merely merd the Well well- knon kno n limitations which war places upon neutral commerce on the high seas sens But nothing beyond boond these has it excellency's at attention attention attention at- at conceded 1 I call your our to this notwithstanding it is already known to all 1111 the world as ns a a. consequence of oC tho the publication of oC our I correspondence In regard to these matten matter matters mat- mat ten ter with s several of or the belligerent crent nations nations na- na lons because cause I cannot cannet assume that you ou have ha official cognizance of oC It It Sought Concession In the second place this government govern govern- fl fluent ment attempted to secure from the German and British governments mu mu- ual tuai concessions with regard to the tho measures those governments so respective tive Ively adopted for the Interruption cf ef f trade rade on the high seas This It did not of or right but merely as exercising the privileges of or a sincere friend of oC both parties an and as indicating Its impartial rood good will Tho The attempt was ul uI hut I regret that your our excellency did not deem leem It worthy worth of or mention In modification of t the e Impressions you Y ex ex- pressed We c had Imd hoped that this act acton acton on n our part had shown our spirit In Lii these hene times of or distressing war var as ns our diplomatic correspondence had hall shown T r ra I C VON BERNSTORFF j I I y German ambassador or at Washington Washington Wash Wash- I ington to whose recent memorandum memorandum I I dum a reply written by President I Wilson was given gi yesterday a I 4 c r t S 5 t s 5 L 11 C. C Sag S I I our steadfast st refusal to acknowledge the right of o any belligerent to alter the accepted rule cf Cr war at sea in so far faras faras as they affect the rights and Interests Interests' of ot neutrals S. S 1 Bound to toS Sell J AramIn Arm Aram In thc tho third plate I I note with nith sincere sincere sincere sin sin- cere re the sale and exportation of or arms armi by cl citizens of t the United States to the tho enemies of Germa Germany r your excellency seems to bo be bounder under the impression that it was withIn within with with- in the choice of or the government of the United States State notwithstanding Its Us professed professed pro pro- teased neutrality and Its diligent ef efforts efforts er- er forts to maintain It In other particulars lars to Inhibit this tra trade e and that its failure to do so manifested an nn unfair attitude towards Germany This government gov gov- holds as I believe your our ex excellency ex- ex Is aware an and as it is constrained constrained con con- strained to hold In view of oC the tho present Indisputable doctrines of ot accepted In International In- In fa law that an any change e In Its own laws Jaws of or neutrality during the the- progress o of n it war which wo would ld affect unequally the relations of or th United States with the tho nations at war Val would bo an no unjustifiable departure fr from m the principles of or strict neutrality b by which it has consistently consistent sought sous-ht to direct its actions and I respectfully submit that none of the circumstances urged In your our excellency's s memorandum alters the principle involved lri The Tho placing of or oran an embargo on oit the tho trade le in arms at atthe atthe the thc present time would constitute such sucha a change chanc and be a direct violation of ot otI the tho neutrality of or the United States It win will I feel fed assured be clear to your our ext that holding this view and Itself In honor nd b by hr It It It is out of o the tho question for tor this government gOVernment gov gOV- to consider s such ch a course I S Americans American Friendly UI 1 hope that your jour OUI excellency will realize the spirit in which I am drafting draft draft- I ing lag this reply The friendship between the people of ot the tho United States and the people of or Germany German Is so warm and o of such long Jon standing t th tics ties which bind them to one another In amity arc are so soman man many and so strong that this government government govern govern- ment meat feels feel under a special compulsion to speak with perfect frankness when an any occasion arises which seems likely to create an any misunderstanding however however how how- ever cr slight or temporary between those who ho represent the governments go of or the two countries it will he be a a. matter matter matter mat mat- ter of or gratification to me mc If IC I have removed remo from Crom your our excellency's mind an any misapprehension you m may o ha b been cn under either elthor the policy 01 or the spirit and purpose of or the government govern s nHI ment t o of tho the United States Its neutrality neutral neutral- ity It is IN founded oun ed upon the firm Cinn basis of or conscience and good will Accept excellency the renewed as assurances as- as of or m my highest consideration V W J. J BRYAN A At tho the German embassy no comment was made on the note further than a 11 statement that It had been transmitted to the tho foreign office at Berlin and that It Is 18 a reply from Cram toni time the American government government gov sov- to a communication from the German government the embassy was without authority to cay y anything until un Instructed to do so |