The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-27
ARMS EXPORTS.

town, N l., on Washington's birth day, former President Taft briefly reaffirmed his opposition to the pro- posal that this country prohibit the export of arms and war munitions. The general adoption of course by neutrals not 10 sell arms to the bel ligerents in a war would greatly stim- ulate," he pointed out anew, "the ten dency to increase ornaments in time 'of peace to be ready for war This argument filed at the very beginning of the agitation launched by side takers in this country, never has been answered, so far as we know. Advo- cates of such an embargo have quietly ignored it, resting their case upon its sentimental appeal to peace-loving folk who abhor warfare
 Recently Messrs. Ridder, Bartholdt and their associates have organized an American Independence Union D whose ostensible purpose is "the lib- eration of our country from all undue foreign influences" One of its reso- iutions declare that "our country must in It's international relations and in its public spirit and public opinion be American only" No American can possibly find fault with these patri- otic expressions. If the new Union practices them in spirit and letter its promoters will deserve well of their country. But one Of it's blanks, we note is borrowed from the so-called neutrality leagues" which were frankly promoted by citizens who openly take sides with one of the Eu. ropean belhgerents against the others. Ii declares for prohibition of the ex. port of munitions Of war "
 If the members of the American h.. dependence Union adhere to their de- termination that We in this country must be American only" in public spirit public opinion and internation. al relations, they must consider how the prohibition they propose if adopt. ed as the general policy of all neu. trals, would affect the American na- ton We are' a non-military people, accustomed through all our history to make no adequate preparation for war urtil after the event. We have today DO sufficient reserves of arms and ammunition, even for a military estab. , Hshment designed to serve merely as nnc GUS for citizen armies Of defense t1 last Us through half@dozen bat ties of the sort taking place in Flu rope. If Great Britain and France and Russia, with their much larger preparation, have been forced from ;he beginning of the war to replenish their supplies by purchase abroad, how much greater and more pressing would be our own necessities in case of war? If neutral nations refused to supply us, adopting the policy now urged upon the United States, neither our wealth nor our numbers could avail us against a foe of first class, amply equipped and supplied for any eyentuality. Should ten million Amer. jeans answer the summons to the col. ors, they could not protect their eoun- try without arms and munitions.
 In case such a policy were adopted. there would be no other alternative, fl We cared to protect the United States against aggression and invasion, than that suggested by Mir. Taft-"the in crease of armaments in time of peace s to be ready for war" It would giveI s"militarism" in the repellant and dan- HtAOfto SNiAGt OA NllhN NNi htf all iAABtAho without parallel in history. The na- ton that refused to prepare for event. aalities of the vastest scale would in. rvite. and expose itself to, conquest by some ambitious. aggressive and ithsfloughly prepared neighbor.
 ssentimentalists who have been persuaded to favor the prohibition of fexpcrts by the superficial plea that 1t might hasten the end Of the present war, ought to look below the surface. The safety of non-military nations which refuse in peace time to burden themselves with excessive armament largely depends, in our opinion. upon oGr ability promptly to secure, in whatever markets may be accessible, weapons and munitions for defense in case they are attacked