New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-16
ARMS SHIPMENTS
LEGAL, U. 5. WILL
ANSWER AUSTRIA
Expected to Cite Cases
Where TeutOns Gained
in War Trade.
REPLY IS LIKELY
WITHIN FORTNIGHT
Washington Hears That Turkey
and Germany viii Also
Protest.

Washington, July 15.-Austria's pro-
test to the United States against sup
plying arms and munitions 10 the En-
tente Allies will, 1t is expected, be an
swered within a fortnight. While the
details of the answer, which has been
under consideration for some time,
have not been made public, it il un-
derstood that the United States will
not only set forth its rights under in
ternational law, but viii cite instances
in other wars where both Germany
and Austria have had large interest
iu the trade In arms.
Much comment was aroused by the
unofficial reports that Germany and
Turkey were planning 20 send similar
notes.
Germany has repeatedly laid empha-
sis on the trade in arms between the
United States and the Allies. In the
German note of February Is, replying
to representations from the American
government on the subject Of the then
Lewly-proclamed war zone, the legal
right Of citizens Of the United States
TO trade in arms was conceded, but 10
was argued that II was equally the
right Of neutrals "to stop trade in
contraband. especially the trade in
arms, with Germany's enemies be-
cause Of violations of other neutral
rights by Great Britain.
4 memorandum from Count Won
BcrnstorH, the German Ambassador,
dated April 1. was devoted entirely 20
the discussion OF the alleged tolera-
tion by the United States of infrac-
tions of international law by Great
- l.s
necessary in considering the arms traf-
fic to take into consideration mot only
the formal aspect of the case, but also
the spirit in which the neutrality is
carried out"
President Wilson himself wrote the
reply dsputirg the ambassadors asser-
tions AM the incident was closed.
The State Department has not made
public the text of the Austrian note,
and will not do so until the reply is
ready The note already has been pub
Hshed abroad, however the American
government giving its consent m re-
quest from the Vienna Foreign once.
II is understood the Austrian note
admits the principle that arms may be
sold by ueutrals 10 be..lgerents, but
bases its objection on two grounds
first. that the scale Of the American in
dustrv is abnormal and does not fall
within the spirit of the law, and sec
ond. that the Allies have prevented
American trade in arms and munitions
with other neutrals.
State Department officials do not see
how this government can draw line
between what might be considered nor
ma, production and what Austria al
icges is abnormal. They believe that
if the principle is admitted the ques-
ton of degree is irrelevant.
The second point ls regarded by ON
cials as an extremely knotty problem.
While the United States is already ne
gotiating with Great Britain on re-
straint of trade, it is considered un
likely that this government viii insist
strongly on unlimited shipments Of
arms and munitions TO neutral coun-
tries
The trade in contraband with ncu-
trial countries has always proved a
stumbling block in diplomatic ncgotia-
tions, but the principle has generally
been recognized that the belligorcnt
holding the sea power was justified in
stopping such shipments when there
were grounds for belief that the uIti-
mate destiuat.on was an enemy coun-
try.