The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-08-18

United States Adhering to a Principle
Upon Which It Would Depend For
Munitions In the Worlds Markets
by Foreign Power-Review of the
American Note.
Washington, Aug. 16.-Austria-Hun
gary and Germany now know officially
that there is no nope of the United
States disseminating or even restrict
ing shipments of war supplies to the
allies
This the Teutonic governments have
learned from the note which the state
department has sent to Austria and
which has been made public. This
communication is in the form OF re-
ply to the Vienna protest against the
business being done by Americans in
war munitions, and sets forth the at
titude of this government clearly and
firmly. Austria is notified that this
government will not even consider
scceding to her request. So strong is
the stand taken by the Washington
government that this note not only
will probably end the diplomatic ex-
changes, but will operate, officials be-
heve, as a check upon the sentiment
| developing in this country in favor of
an embargo.
While President Wilson in this note,
as in all others to European govern
ments on the war issues, takes his
stand firmly upon the principles in
volved and upon the usage of nations,
be introduces another feature which
by many is regarded as the most strik-
ing feature of the note. The president
bases his refusal to consider the Aus
trian suggestion on the practical
grounds of its effect upon the ability
of the United States to meet a foe in
| the event of war. This government
tells Austria tnat it has been the pol
icy of the United States from the
founding of the republic not to main
tain in time of peace a large military
establishment or stores of arms and
ammunition; that the United States
mas, in fact, always depended upon the
right and power to purchase arms and
ammunition from neutral nations in
case of foreign attack.
In citing the domestic policy against
militarism the American note makes
| this remarkably frank acknowledg-
ment:
'In consequence of this standing
policy the United States would in the
event of attack by foreign power be
| at the outset of the war seriously if
not fatally embarrassed by the lack of
arms and ammunition and by the
means to produce them in sufficient
Quantities to supply the requirements
Of national defense"
The statement to one of the large
European powers that the United
States might be fatally" embarrassed
at the outset of a war caused more Of
&, stir in Washington than any other
feature of the note.
The president makes it clear to Aus
tria, and through ner to Germany,
that to accept the suggestion that a
neutral ought to prohibit the sale of
arms and ammunitions to belligerents
not only would be repudiating the pol
| icy by which this government has
| always stood but would be compelling
| every nation, including the United
| states, TO nave IN readiness at all
times sufficient munitions of war to
| enable them to cope with a more ag-
| gressive and better prepared enemy.
In other words, the acceptance of the
Teutonic proposals would be to turn
the world into an armed camp, pro-
mote militarism and retard the move
ment for universal peace.
IN advancing this argument the
| PRESIDENT clearly was aiming at the
embargo movement in this country as
much as ne was at the proposals made
by Austria and Germany, He had
seized the opportunity offered by the
reply to Austria in an attempt to
check the movement that is gaining
headway in the south in favor of an
embargo on war munitions as an act
of reprisal against Great Britain. The
embargo movement mas had the sup
port of peace societies. Some officials
in Washington have an idea, too, that
the note was written with the national
defense issue in mind, and for the
purpose of calling impressively to the
attention of the country the fact that
this country is dependent upon other
countries for sufficient war supplies to
meet crisis.