South Bend news-times., 1915-08-16

find themselves at the present zine.
Yet. in spite Of the commercial isOla-
ton OF one belligerent. Germany sold
TO Great Britain, the other belhgerent,
hundreds IF thousands OF kilos OF ex-
plosives. gun powder. cartridges. shot
and weapons. and Il Is known that
Austria Hungary also sold similar mu-
nitions TO the same purchaser. though
in smaller quantities. While. as COM
pared with the present war, the guam
titles sold were small. a table OF sales
Is appended the principle OF neutrality
involved was the same. II at that time
Austria Hungary and her present ally
mad refused 20 sell arms and ammuni-
ton To Great Britain on the ground
TO do so would violate the spirit OF
strict neutrality the imperial and
royal government might with greater
consistency and greater force urge its
present contention.
1T might be further pointed out
that during the Crimean war large
quantities Of arms and military stores
were furnished TO Russia by Prussian
manufacturers: that during the recent
war between Turkey and Italy, as this
government Is advised. arms and am
munition were furnished to the Otto
man government by Germany; and
during the Balkan wars the belliger-
ents were supplied with munitions by
both Austria Hungary and Germany.
While these latter cases are not anal
ogOus. as IL the case Of the South At
rican war. 10 the situation OF Austria
Hungary and Germany in the present
war, they nevertheless clearly indi-
cate the long established practice of
the two empires in the matter of trade
IN war supplies
I'm view of the foregoing state
ments- this government is reluctant to
believe that the imperial and royal
government will ascribe to the United
States lack Of impartial neutrality in
continuing it's legitimate trade in all
kinds of supplies used to render the
armed forces of "A belligerent efficient
even though the circumstances Of the
present war prevent Austria Hungary
from obtaining such supplies from the
markets Of tie United States which
been and remain. so far as the action
and policy OF this government are
concerned. open 10 all belligerents
alike.
but in addition to the question Of
J principle. there is a practical and sub
stantial reason why the government
J of the United States has from the
foundation OF the republic TO the pres
ent time. advocated and practiced un-
4
supplies. X has never been the policy
of this country to maintain in time of
peace large military establishment
| OF stores of arms and ammunition
sufficient to repel invasion by a well
equipped and powerful enemy. II has
| desired to remain at peace with all na-
| uons and TO avoid any appearance of
menacing such peace by threats of its
armies and navies In consequence of
] ST ha
would. in the event OF attack by a
foreign power, be at the outset of the
war seriously, if not fatally. embar-
raSsed by the lack Of arms and ammu-
milton and by the means to produce
| them in sufficient quantities 10 supply
! the requirements of national defense.
! The United States has always depend
ed upon the right and power to pur-
! chase arms and ammunition from neu-
I trail nations in case of foreign attack
This right. which it claims for itself.
IT cannot deny to others
/ "A nation whose principle and mol
! icy it is to rely upon international OBJ
! legations and international justice to
/ preserve its political and territorial
! integrity might become the prey of
an aggressive nation whose policy and
practice it is TO increase it's military
! strength during times Of peace with
the design of conquest, unless the ma
tion 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 bv the ma
tions of the world of the theory that
neutral powers ought to prohibit the
sale of arms and ammunition to belli-
gerents would compel every nation to
have in readiness at all times sufficient
munitions Of war to meet any emer-
gency which might arise and to erect
! and maintain establishments for the
manufacture of arms and ammunition
sufficient to supply the needs of it's
military and naval forces throughout
the progress or a war Ianifestly the
application Of this theory would re-
suit in every nation becoming an
armed camp, ready To resist aggres-
sion and tempted TO employ force i'm
asserting its rights rather than appeal
TO reason and justice for the settle
ment of international disputes
"Perceiving, as it does, that the
adoption of the principle that il is the
duty of neutral to prohibit the sale
OF arms and ammunition TO a belliger-
ent during the progress of a war would
inevitably give the advantage to the
belligerent which had encouraged the
manufacture of munitions in time of
peace and which had laid in vast
stores of arms and ammunition in an
J tlcipatiOn of war, the government of
the United States is convinced that
the adoption of the theory would force
militarism on the world and work
against that universal peace which is
the desire and purpose Of all nations
which eXalt justice and righteousness
In their relations with one another.
The government of the United
States in the foregoing discussion OF
the practical reason why il has advo-
Gated and practiced trade in munitions
of war wishes 10 be understood as
speaking with no thought of express
ing or implying any judgment with
regard 10 the circumstances of the
present war but as merely putting
very frankly the argument in this mat
ter which has been conclusive in de-
termining the policy of the United
states.
| While the practice OF nations. SO
well illustrated by the practice OF
Austria Hungary and Germany during
the 81 ath 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