Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-25
Editorial from the outlook.>


In an editorial upon the Austrian note,
protesting against the sale and export Of
munitions OF war by American concerns,
the current Outlook characterizes 1t as
an appeal to the American people over the
a OF the nations government, and
for the purpose of creating and crystaliz-
ing q sentiment that will react to the
advantage OF Germany and Austria. Con-
tinuing the Outlook says:
rms appeal to American public opinion
Is skillful for another reason. Although
our government, ever under Mr.. Bryan.
mas not only denied that the prohibition
or the export of munitions would be neu-
trail. but has affirmed hat it would be
actually %unneutral, the subject is still
DEBATED In this country; and when con-
gress meets 1t will probably be debated
ny representatives and senators. In his
special correspondence on another page,
Mr.. Whelpley quotes a senator as say
ing that. although he is himself opposed
10 an embargo on arms, he would, If the
matter came up in congress-. have to
vote Tor such an embargo in response to
the opinions of his constituency. 1t is to
this uniformed public opinion in Amer
lea that Austria now appeals.
ON a subject of this sort Americans
should base their opinion, not on impulse
and sentiment. but on reason and under
standing.
In order to reach a sound conclusion
Slo " lSht ItlZCI VII
wants his country to be law abiding, just,
and wise should consider three questions
concerning the export of munitions:
I. Is it lawful?
2. Is it right?
3. Is 1t expedient?
AS to the lawfulness OF the citizen OF
a neutral country dealing in munitions in
time OF peace or war there is absolutely
no question. The lawfulness of such
has been affirmed again and
again. and by such American authori-
ties as Jefferson, Hamilton, Seward. Bay
ard. Blaine. Foster. Olney and Hay. In
every war b%elligerents ave ordinarily at
tempted to secure for themselves what
ever benefits they could. Germany Is
not the only country which has sought to
prevent her enemies from getting NUM-
lions of war. hut no belligerent has ever
been able to show the unlawfulness of
trade in such ~contraband. 1t would
weary our readers for US to quote here
the decisions that have been rendere in
courts and by executive officers as to the
iawfulness OF such commerce. 1t is fair
to. say that no practice has been more
specifically and uniformly upheld by In
ternational law. 1t is an u%nneutral act
Tor q country to allow its citizens to sell
TO one bellgerent what that country re-
fuses to allow its citizens to sell to an
otner belligerent. But this Is not the
case at present.
Perhaps the tersest expression of the
right IL to be found In the words Of Thorn
az Jefferson when he was secretary of
state. He said. in 1898. in an official com-
municatton: Our citizens nave been al
ways free to make. vend. and export
arms" Mi. Hay. when secretary of state,
said. In almost as terse language: "Neu-
trails In their own country may sell to
~belligerents whatever belligerents choose
to buy" And by more thar one au-
thority. including Mr.. Seward, Lincoln's
secretary of state. 1t Is pointed out Into
what tangle OF law and practice the pro-
hibttion on m in arms would In