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

Onileo StdtcS Aonerln9 10 Principe
Upon Which 1t Would Depend For
Munitions In the Worlds Markets
In Case 1t Should Be Attacked
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
sscceding 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-
lieve. 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 foe in
the event of war This government
tells Austria that 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.
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 o.
{, stir in Washington than any otnel
feature of the note.
The president makes it clear to Aus
tria, and through ner to Germany
that to accept the suggestion that {
neutral ought to prohibit the sale o
arms and ammunitions to belligerent!
not only would be repudiating the pol
! icy by which this government ha!
always stood. but would be compellin:
every nation, including the United
States. to have in readiness at al
| times SuInclenL mUnlllOnS OF war u
. enable them to cope with more ag
gressive and better prepared enemy
In other words, the acceptance of thu
Teutonic proposals would be to turf
the world into an armed camp, pre-
, mote militarism and retard the move
! ment for universal peace.
IN advancing this argument tn
PRESIDENT clearly was aiming at tn
, embargo movement in this country a
much as ne was at the proposals mad
by Austria and Germany, He ha
. seized the opportunity offered by tn
reply to Austria in an attempt t
) check the movement that is gainin
, Roadway in the south in favor of a
: embargo on war munitions as an &C
of reprisal against Great Britain TIL
: embargo movement mas had the SUI
Z port of peace societies. Some official
| in Washington have an idea, too, tina
the note was written with the nations
: defense issue in mind, and for tn
, purpose of calling impressively to tn
attention of the country the fact tina
this country is dependent upon othe
: countries for sufficient war supplies
I meet a crisis.