The Washington herald., 1915-08-16
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

practice it is to increase its military
strength during times Of peace with
the design Of conquest, unless the ma
con attacked can. after war had been
declared, go into the markets of the
world and purchase the means to de-
fend itself against the aggressor.
The general adoption by the nations
Of the world of the theory that neu-
trail powers ought to prohibit the sale
OF arms and ammunition to belliger-
ents would compel every nation to
have in readiness at all times sum-
Gent munitions OF war to meet any
emergency which might arise and to
erect and maintain establishments
for the manufacture of arms and am
munition sufficient to supply the needs
of its military and naval forces
throughout the progress Of a war.
Manifestly the application of this
theory would result in every nation
becoming an armed camp. ready to
resist aggression and tempted to en-
ploy force in asserting its rights
rather than appeal to reason and JUS
tice for the settlement Of interna-
tional disputes.
Perceiving. as II does, that the
adoption of the principle that It is the
of arms and ammunition to a bel
ligerent during the progress Of a war
would inevitably give the advantage
to the belligerent which had encour-
aged the manufacture of munitions in
time of peace and which had laid in
vast stores of arms and ammunition
in anticipation of war, the govern
ment of the United States is convinced
that the adoption of the theory would
force nlilitarisn on the world and
work against that universal peace
which is the desire and purpose Of all
nations which eXalt justice and right
eousness in their relations with one
another.
The Government Of the United
States in the foregoing discussion
of the practical reason why it has
advocated and practiced trade in nsu-
nitions of war, wishes to be under
stood as speaking with no thought Of
expressing or implying any judgment
with regard to the circumstances of
the present war. but as merely put
ting very frankly the argument in
this matter which has been conclusive
in determining the policy OF the United
States.
While the practice Of nations. so
we'll illustrated by the practice Of
Austria Hungary and Germany during
the South African war. and the mani
fest evil which would result from a
change Of that practice render COM
pliance with the suggestions of the
Imperial and Royal Government out Of
the question. certain assertions ap-
pearing in the Austro-Hungarian
statement as grounds for its conten-
tons cannot be passed over without
comment These assertions are SUBJ
stantially as follows. ~ That the ex-
portation of arms and ammunition
from the United States to belligerents
contravenes the preamble Of The
Eague Convention No. 13. of 1907:
~ that 1t is inconsistent with the re-
fusal of this government to allow de-
livery Of supplies to vessels of war on
the high seas; 90 that according to
al authorities on international law
who concern themselves more proper
ly with the the question" expectation
should be prevented when this traf-
fc assumes such a form or such di-
mansions that the neutrality OF ma
ton becomes involved thereby"
AS to the assertion that the expor-
tation of arms and ammunition con-
travenes the preamble of The Hague
Convention No. 10 OF 1907. this Govern
ment presumes that reference is made
to the last paragraph of the pream<
BILE. which is as follows: Seeing that.
in this category of ideas, these rules
should not IN principle. be altered.
in the course of the war. by a neu-
trail power. except in a case where
experience has shown the necessity
for such change for the protection
of the rights OF that power"
Manifestly the only ground to
change the rules laid down by the
convention. one of which. 1t should
be noted. explicitly declares that a
neutral Is not bound to prohibit the
{ portation of contraband of war. is
the necessity Of a neutral power 10 do
so in order to protect its own rights.
The right and duty to determine when
this necessity exists rests with the
neutral. not with aSeliigerent. 1t IS
not mandatory. If neu-
trail power does not avail itself Of the
right, belligerent is not privileged to
for in doing so it would be
In the position of declaring to the
neutral power what is necessary to
protect that powers own rights The
Imperial and Royal Government cannot
but perceive that a complaint of this
nature would invite just rebuke.
With reference to the asserted in
Of the course adopted by
this Government in relation to the ex-
portation of arms and ammunition