BOWLED OUT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2386, 16 February 1915, Page 6

BOWLED OUT

DTIM-DUM BULLET CHARGE

COUNT BERNSTORFPS COMPLAINTS

Washington, January 7. Secretary Bryan, to-day informed Count von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, that the United States, in maintaining strict neutrality, must tcfrain from officially investigating or commenting upon his charges that dumdum bullets were being_ furnished from this country to tho Allies. Secretary Bryan told t'ho Ambassador, however, that if ho could furnish proof that forbidden war materials wero being shipped by American firms President Wilson would use his. influence to stop the traffic without involving legal or international questions. In a letter to von Bernstorff, Secretary Bryan referred to denials of American manufacturers to his recent charge of dtim-dum bullets and riot guns being furnished to ■ the Allies; The letter follows: —

"I have the honour to acknowledge tho reccipt of your note on the sth ultimo, calling attention' to 'fresh violations o? the Geneva Convention as well as of Section 2, Article 230, of The Hague Convention of July 2.9, 1899. by the British Government,' in the use of dum-dmn bullets. Our Strict Neutrality. "1 can assure Your Excellency that' I am not unmindful of the spirit in which you bring to -the attention of this Government the* improper practices which are alleged to have occurred in tho conduct of the present war. But while this Government, may take these statements and charges under consideration, it is, in its effort to maintain a strict neutrality in the present conflict, obliged to. refrain from investigating their truthfulness or making any comment in regard to them. "The time will come, however, when the truth may be impartially'determined, and when the judgment of the world will be passed upon the charges made by the various belligerents of violations of the rules of civilised warfare..

"Your Excellency also states that the British Government lias ordered from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company 20,000 'riot-guns,' model 1897, and 50,000,000 'buckshot cartridges' for use in such guns. "This department saw a published statement of /the Winchester Company, the correctness of which' the company has confirmed to the department by telegraph., 'In this statement the company categorically denies that it has received an order for such guns • and cartridges from, or made _any sale of such material, to the British Government, or to any other Government engaged in the present war.

The Mushroom-Bullet Charge. . "Your Excellency further calls attention, to 'infonnation, the accuracy of which is not to be'doubted,' that 8,000000 cartridges fitted with 'mushroom bullets' have delivered since October of this year by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company for the armament of the English Army. ' * ' '

"In reply I. have, the honour to refer to the letter, of December 10, 1914, of the Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Company of New York, to your Excellency, called forth by pertain newspaper reports of statements alleged to have been made by you in regard to the sale by that company of soft-nosed bullets. From , this letter, a copy of which was sent to this department by the company, it appears that instead of 8,000,000 cartridges having been sold, only a little over 117,000 were manufactured, and 109,000 wore sold. The letter further, asserts that these cartridges were made to supply a demand for a better sporting cartridge with a softnosed bullet thaii had been manufactured theretofore; and that such cartridges cannot be used in the military rifle of any foreign Power; The company adds that its statement can be substantiated and that it is ready to give you any evidence that you may require on these points.

"The Department is now in receipt from the company of a complete, detailed Kst of- the persons to whom these cartridges were sold. From this list it appears that the cartridges were sold to (inns in lots of 20 to 2000, and one lot each of 3000, 4000, and 5000. Of these, only 960 cartridges went to British North America, and 100 to British East Africa. Clad to See proof. "If, however, you can furnish the Do--partment with evidence that this or any other company are manufacturing and selling for the use-of the contending armies in Europe cartridges.whose use would contravene the Hague Convention, the Government woud be glad to be furnished with the evidence, and the President directs me to inform you that, in case any American company is shown to be engaged in' this traffic, ho will use his influence to prevent, as far as possible, sales of such ammunition to the Powers engaged in the Eurpoean war, without regard to whether it is the duty of this Government upon legal or conventional grounds to take such action. "In. the view of the publicity-which has been given to your Excellency's complaint, addressed to tho Department, in these matters, it is taken for granted that there can bo no objection on your part to equal publicity being given to this note, and the letter of tho Union Metallic Cartridge Company, addressed to you on December 10, 1914. "Accept, your Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration."