The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-17


sells prevented arms and ammunition
reaching the Transvaal or the Orange
Free State. The allied republics we're
In situation almost identical in that
respect with that in which Austria
Hungary and Germany find themselves
at the present time. Yet in spite of
the commercial isolation of one bellie
erent, Germany sold TO Great Britain
and other bellgerents hundreds OF
thousands of kilos of explosives, gun
powder cartridges, shot and weapons
and it is known that Hungary
also sold similar munitions to the same
purchasers though in small quantities.
While as compared with the present
war the quantities sold were small the
principle OF neutrality involved was
the same. II at that time Austria-Hun-
gary and her present ally had refused
to sell arms and ammunition to Great
Britain on the ground that to do so
would violate the spirit OF strict neu-
trality, the imperial and royal govern
ment might with greater consistency
and greater force urge its present con
tention.
1T might be further pointed out
that during the Crimean war large
qualities OF arms and military stores
were furnished TO Russia by Pnssian
ministers; that during the recent war
between Turkey and Italy, as this gov
ernment is advised. arms and ammu-
milton were furnished the Ottoman
government by Germany. and that dur
ing the Balkan wars the belligerents
were supplied with munitions by both
Austria-Hungary and Germany. While
these latter cases are not analogous as
is the case OF the South African war.
to the situation of Austria-Hungary
and Germany in the present war, they
nevertheless clearly indicate the long
established practice of the two empires
in the matter of trade in war sup
plies"
In setting forth the practical side Of
the question as II affects the United |
States. the note to Austria also by in |
ference gives high moral grounds UP.
on which the American position is /
founded. We quote as follows:
But, in addition to the question of
principle. there is a practical and sub
stantial reason why the government
OF the United States has from the foun-
dation of the republic to the present
time advocated and practiced unre-
stricted trade in arms and military
supplies. 1t has never been the policy
of this country to maintain in time Of
peace large military establishment
Of stores of arms and ammunition SUI.
ficient to repel invasion by well
equipped and powerful enemy.
1T has desired to remain at peace
with all nations and avoid any prac-
tice likely to cause contention. The
United States has always depended
upon the right and power to purchase
arms and ammunition from neutral
nations in case of foreign attack. This
right. which it claims for itself, it can.
not deny to others.
"The general adoption by the ma
Iions of the world of the theory that
neutral powers ought to prohibit the
sale of arms and ammunition to bel
Iigerents would compel every nation to
have in readiness at all times suffic-
ent ammunition of war to meet any
which might arise and to
erect and maintain establishments for
he manufacture of arms and ammuni-
lion sufficient to supply the needs of its
and naval forces throughout
he progress of a war Manifestly the
application of this theory would result |
n every nation becoming an armed
amp ready to resist any attempt to (
'ell munitions of war.
"Perceiving as il does that the adop.
ion of the principle that 1t is the duty I
# a neutral 10 prohibit the sale of /
rms and ammunition 20 belIigerent
Turing the progress of war would