Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-16
AUSTR|A'S VIEWS
ON WAR MUNITIONS
FLATLY REJECTED
Told in Firm and Friendly
Tone That Trade Will
Be Continued.
TO DC OTHERWISE WOULD
lMPERiL THIS COUNTRY
In Case of War, United States
Would Have to Depend on
Neutral Nations.
HUMANITY ITSELF FORRJDs
Even Neutrality Itself Would Be
TO DC OTHERWISE WOULD
IMPERiL THIS COUNTRY
Even Neutrality Itself Would Be
Violated Now by withhold
Ing Supplies.

ing supplies.
WASHINGTON. August 15 ~.
state Department tonight mads rrh,,.
us reply rejecting views contained IN
'he recent Austrian note which con-
tended that the expectations of war
munitions TO AuHtria's enemies wa.
conducted on such scale as to be mot
IN consonance with the definition of
neutrality"
Ihoush friendly in tone. the note nat
~ denies tho Austrian contentious. and
recalls that that country and Germanv
furnished munitions to Great Rritain
during the Boer war, when Enulands
enemies could not import such supplies
IL insists that the American govern
meht Is pursuing a strictly neutral
course and adhering to PRINCIPAL on
which 1t would depend for munitions In
the worlds markets in case 1t should
be attacked by foreign power.
NEUTRALITY ITSELF
AGAINST PROHIBITION
The principles OF international law"
the communication concludes. "tho
practice OF nations. the national safety
or the United States and other nations
without great military and naval estab-
hshments the prevention of increased
armies and navies. the adoption of
peaceful methods for the adjustment of
international differences, and. finally.
neutrality itself are opposed to the pro-
hfbition by neutral nation of the ex-
portation Of arms, ammunition or other
munitions OF war to belligerent powers,
during the progress OF the war"
PointinS to a practical and substan-
tial reason" why the United States,
aside from the question Of principle ad-
Vocates and practices unrestricted trade
In military supplies, the note declares:
1T has never been the policy of this
country to maintain in time Of peace a
large military establishment Of stores
OF arms and ammunition sufficient to
repel invasion by a well-equipped and
powerful enemy It has desired to re-
main at peace with all nations. and to
avoid any appearance OF menacing such
peace by the threat of It's armies and
navies In consequence OF this stand
ing policy. the United States would, in
the event OF attack by foreign power,
be- at the outset OF our war, seriously,
IL 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 United States
has always depended upon the right and
power to purchase arms and ammuni-
ton from neutral nations in case of
foreign attack. This right which it
claims for itself, 1t can not deny to
others"
REJECTS SUGGESTION
OF MODIFYING RULES
The United States asserts that it can
not accede to the suggestion that it
modify tho rules OF International usage
during war on account OF special con-
ditions and declares the ihea OF neu-
trality advanced by Austria would "ln-
volve q neutral nation In mass Of
perplexities, which would obscure tho
whole field of International obligation.
produce economic confusion and deprive
all commerce and industry OF legiti-
mate fields OF enterprise. already heav-
lily burdened by the unavoidable re-
strictions OF war.
Attention is directed to the fact that
Austria and Germany. before the war.
produced a great surplus of war muni-
tions and sold them throughout the
world Especially to belligerents." and
that never during that period did
either OF them suggest or apply the
principle now advocated by the i'm
perial and royal governments"
a table of sales by Germany and Aus
trla to Great Britain during the Boer
war Is appended to the note, and ii Is
suggested that had Austria and Ger
many refused to sell arms to Great
Britain at that time ION the ground
that to do SO would violate the spirit OF
strict neutrality, the imperial and royal
government might with greater consist
ency and greater force urge it's present
contention"
NOTE is CABLED
TO AMBASSADOR PENFIELD
The note was cabled to Ambassador
Penfeld. at Vienna. August IL. It fol-
lows In full:
Department OF State.
Washington, D. c..
August 13. 1918.
The Secretary OF the State to Ambas-
sador Penheld:
Please present a note to the Royal
Foreign Office In reply to It's note of
June 90, in the following sense:
The government OF the United States
has given careful consideration to tho
statement of the imperial and royal
government In regard to tho exporta-
tion OF arms and ammunition from the
United States TO the countries at war
with Austria Hungary and Germany,
The government OF the United States
notes with satisfaction the recognition
by the imperial and royal government OF.
the undoubted fact that its attitude
with regard to the expectation OF arms
and ammunition from the United States
Is prompted by its intention to main
tain the strictest neutrality and to con-
49, . ~.