New Britain herald., 1915-08-16

| reSCr1CC1OnS or war.
Inconsistency Pointed Out.
In this connection it is pertinent t.
direct the attention Of the imperia
and royal government to the fact tina
that Austria Hungary and Germany
particularly the latter, have during tn
year preceding the present European
war produced a great surplus Of arm
, and ammunition, which they sol,
| throughout the world and especially t,
! belligerents. Never during that perio,
did either of them suggest or apply tn
principle now advocated by the i'm
perial and royal government.
During the Boer war between Grea
Britain and the South African repub
J lies the patrol Of the coasts Of neigh
boring neutral colonies by British
naval vessels prevented arms and am
munition reaching the Transvaal OF
the Orange Free State. The allied re.
publics were 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 isola-
ton Of one be1ligerent, Germany sold
to Great Britain, the other belligerent,
hundreds Of thousands of kilos or eX-
plosives, gunpowder, cartridges, shot
and weapons and it is known that
Austria-Hungary also sold similar
munitions to the same purchaser
though in smaller quantities. Whlle
as compared with the present war the
quantities sold were small "a raole OF
the sales is appended), the principle
of neutrality involved was the same.
If at that time Austria-Hungary ana
her present ally had refused TO sell
arms and ammunition to Great Britain
on the ground that to do so would vlo-
late the spirit of strict neutrality the
imperial and royal government might
with greater consistency and greater
force urge it's present contention.
Recalls Crimean War.
1t might be further pointed out
that during the Crimean war large
quantities of arms and military stores
were furnished to Russia by Prussian
manufacturers; that during the recent
war between Turkey and Italy, as this
government is advised, arms and am
munition were furnished to the Otto
man government by Germany, and
that during the Balkan wars the bel
ligerents were supplied with NUM-
tions by both Austria-Hungary and
Germany. While these latter cases
are not analogous, as Is the case Of
the South African war, the situation
OF stria-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 supplies.
In view Of the foregoing statements,
this government is reluctant to be-
Government will ascribe 70 the United
States lack Of legitimate neutrality in
continuing it's legitimate trade in all
kinds Of supplies used to render the
armed forces OF a belligerent efficient,
present war prevent Austria Hungary
from obtaining such supplies from
the markets Of the United States,
which have been and remain, so far
as the action and policy Of this gov
eminent are concerned, open TO all
belligerents alike.
Unrestricted Trade Policy.
But, in addition to the question of
principle, there is a practical and
substantial reason why the govern
ment Of the United States has from
the foundation of the republic to the
present time advocated and practised
unrestricted trade in arms and military
supplies. It has never been the
policy Of this country to maintain in
time Of peace a. large military estab-
1ishment Or stores of arms and am
munition sufficient to repel invasion
by we'll equipped and powerful
enemy. It has desired to remain at
peace with all nations and to avoid
anw appearance Of menacing such
peace by the threat Of its armies and
navies. In consequence Of this stand
ing policy, the United States would,
in the event Of attack by a. foreign
power, be at the outset OF the war
seriously, If not fatally, embarrassed
b.y the lack of arms and ammunition
and by the means to produce them in
sufficient quantities to supply the re-
ouirements of national defense. 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 privilege which it claims for it
self it cannot deny to others.
A nation whose principle and policy
is to rely upon International obliga-
lions and international Justice to pre-
serve it's political and territorial in
tegrity might become the prey of an
aggressive nation whose policy and
practice it is to increase IT'S military
strength during times Of peace with
the design Of conquest, unless the
nation attacked can, after War had
been declared, go into the markets Of
the world and purchase the means to
defend itself against the aggressor.
The general adoption by the nations
Of the world Of the theory that neu-
trail powers ought to prohibit the sale
CT arms and ammunition TO belliger-
ents would compel every nation to
nave in readiness at all times suff1-
Gent munitions Of war to meet any
emergency which might arise and to
cract and maintain asta hl sh m enta fo1.