Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-02

as a basis any one of the various criteria
established by law, and arrive. accord
ing to each, at TIE conclusion that the
export of war materials from the United
States as ii is carried on in the present
war cannot be made to accord with the
requirements of neutrality. 1t is not a
question as to whether the branch OF
American industry occupied with the pro-
duction of war material shall be protected
in order that its export as 1t has been
ca FRIED on in peace times may suffer no
impairment. Furthermore, this industry
has experienced an unexpected increase
because of the war. In order to manu-
facture the immense amount of weapons.
munitions and other war material OF All
kinds which Great Britain and her aines
have ordered in the United States OF
America in the course of the last month.
it required not only the full utilization
and adaptation of existing plants. but the
crcat ton of rev factories as we'll as the
diversion of large numbers OF Workmen
from all branches of trade-in short. a
WIDESPREAD change in the economic lie
of the country-the right of the Amer
lean government can from no quarter ne
d sputed to decree an embargo on this
obviously enormous export of war mate
rial which is VIGOROUSLY for the eXciu-
sive benefit of one of the be!liger'ent
parties.
1.-The United States government could
meet with no reproof if it were to
took recourse to the passage OF Ia"
in accordance with its Constitution.
Even if it proved correct in prlnclple
that a neutral state may not cnange
the laws in force within its Jurlsdic-
ton concerning its attitude toward bel
ligerents during the war, there is,
however, an exception to the prlnc'pie
as is clearly shown in the preamble OF
the XIII Hague convention-'Where eA-
perience has shown the necessity for
such change for the protection of the
rights of that power.
No Legal Blockade.
This case arises for the United states
government by the mere fact that Aus
tria Hungary as we'll as Germany are
cut off from any commercial inter-
course with the United States without
the existence of a legal ground-a le-
gally effective blockade.
ITO the possible objection that al
though American industry is perlectiy
willing to supply Austria Hungary ana
Germany as well as Great Britain ana
her allies the United States are not ape
to carry on trade in consequence OF the
war situation. ii may well be men
toned that the United States govern
ment is without doubt in position 10
remedy the above described condition.
1t would be entirely sufficient to hold
out to the adversaries of Austria Hun
gary and Germany the inhibition of the
export of foodstuffs and raw materials
if the legitimate trade in these articles
between the Union and the two central
powers is not permitted
IF the Washington cabinet could hnd
itself prepared to act in this direction
it would not only follow the tradition
always upheld in the United States to
safeguard the freedom of the seas,
but it would also offer the great serv-
ice of defeating the criminal endeavor
of the enemies of Austria Hungary and
Germany to enlist starvation as an ally.
Asks Revision of Present Attitude.
The imperial and royal government,
in the spirit of the excellent relations
which have never ceased to exist be-
tween the Austro- Hungarian monarchy
and the United States of America and
in the name of sincere friendship, per-
mits itself to make an appeal to the
government of the Union to submit to
careful examination the point of view
hereinbefore taken in this most impor-
tant question and consider the state
ments given herewith. The revision of
the present attitude of the government
of the Union to agree with the views
proffered by the imperial and royal