Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-16

sorting that this government should go
beyond the long recognized rules gov
erning tuch traffic by neutrals and !
adopt measures TO maintain an atti- !
tude OF strict parity with respect TO
both beiligerent parties"
CANNOT CHANGE UsAGES
For SPECIAL CONDITIONS |
To this assertion OF an obligation !
to change or modify the rules Of inter !
national usage OF account OF special |
conditions the government Of tho
United States cannot accede. The rec !
ognition of an obligation OF this sort. |
unknown 10 the international prac-
tce OF the past, would impose upon
every neutral nation duty to sit in
judgment Oh the progress of 4 war
and to restrict its commercial inter- |
course with n beliigcrcnt whose naval |
successes prevented the neutral from
trade with the enemy. The contention |
of the imperial and royal government ,
appears to be that the advantages .
gained to n belligcrent by its superior /
ity on the sea should be equalizcd by
the neutral powers by the establish :
ment OF system of nonintercourse
with the victor The imperial and .
royal government confines its com II
merts 10 arms and ammunition, but
IL the principle for which 1t contends |
is sound, II should apply with equal ]
force 10 all articles OF contrabrand /
might possess an ample supply of arms 4
and ammunition. but be in want OF L
food and clothing. On the novel prin- 1
ciple that equalization is IA neutral 1
duty. neutral nations would be obl-
gated 10 place an embargo on such |
articles because one OF the bellgerents 1
could not obtain them through com
merCial intercourse.
But, If this principle. so strongly |
urged by the imperial and royal gov
eminent should he admitted 10 obtain
by reason OF the superiority OF n bel /
liEercnt & sea. ought il not to operate 4
equally as to n hcligerent superior
on land Applying this theory OF l
equalization. a belliGerent who lacks
the necessary munitions to contend 4
successfully on land ought to be per- 1
m!ttcd 10 purchase them from neu-
trails. while q bcllgerent with an /
abundance OF war stores or with the 1
power to produce them should be de-
barred from such traffic.
WOULD INVOLVE NATIONS
IN MASS OF PERPLEXITIES Il
Manitestly tho idea OF strict neu-
trality now advanced by the imperial
and royal government would involve
neutral nation in n mass of perpleXi
ties which would obscure the whole
field of interna tional obligation. pro-
duce economic confusion and deprive
all commerce and industry of legiti
mate fields Of enterprise. already heav.
lily burdcned by the unavoidable re-
strictions OF war.
In this connection ii is pertinent to
direct the attention of the imperial
and royal government 10 tho fact that
Austro- Hungary and Germany. particu-
larly the latter, have during the years
preceding the present European war.
produced n great surplus Of arms and
ammunition, which they sold through
out the world and especially to bel
Cd !
did either of them suggest or apply
the principle now advocated by the
imperial and royal government.
During the Bocr War between Great
Britain and the South African republics
the patrol OF the coasts OF ncighboring
vented arms and ammunitions reaching
the TraNsvaal or the Orange FREQ,
State. The allied republics were In
situa tion almost identical in that re-
spect with that in which Austria Hun
gary and Germany find Themselves at
the present time Yet. in spite of the
commercial isolation of one belliger-
emf, Germany sold 10 Great Britain.
the other helliGerent, hundreds of thou
sands OF kilos OF explosives. gun
powder, cartridges. shot and weapons:
and il is known that Austria Hungary
also sold similar munitions TO the same
purchaser though in smaller quanti-
ties. While. as compared with the
present war, the nuahttleS SoId were
small "a table of the sales ia appended.
the principle .nf neutrality involved was
the same II 1T that time Austria
Hungary and her present ally had re-
fused 10 sell arms and ammunition to
Great Britain on the ground that 10
DO so would violate the spirit OF strict
neutrality. the imperial and royal gov
eminent might with greater con;is-
tency and greater force urge its pres
tnt contention.
I: might he furthe: pointed ont that
during the Crimean Var large guam
titles of arms and nlslitsry stores were
furnished 10 Russia by Prussian manu-
lecturers. that during the recent wnr
between Turkey and Italy. az this gov
eminent Is advised. arms and ammuni-
ZION We're furnished to The ottoman
government by Germany: and that dur
ing the Balkan wars tn. helligcrents
we're supplied Win munitions by both
Austria Hungary ana Germany. While
these latter cases are not analogous
as is the case OF the South African War
10 the situation Of Austria Hungary
ana Germany N 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 10 be-
lieve that The imperial and royal gov
eminent viii ascriho to the United
states lack OF Impartial neutrality !
IN continuing its Legitimate trade in
an Kinds az supplies used Ia render
me armed forces Of bcllircrcnt ef-
hcient, even though the CirctIn stances
OF the present war against Austria
Hungary from obtaining such supplies
from the markets OF the United States !
which have been and remain. So far
as Tho action and policy of this gov
ethinth, arc concerned. open to all
helliEerents alike.
Buf, ~ addition 10 the rNcstihn -,