South Bend news-times., 1915-08-16
TEXT OF NOTE

WASHINGTON, Aug. l6.-Ihe text
of the note is as follows:
The secretary Of state to Ambassa-
dor Penfeld.
(Telegram).
department of state Washington,
Aug. u. 1915
please present a note 10 the royal
foreign office in reply 10 its note OF
June % in the following sense:
The government of the United
States has given careful consideration
to the statement of the imperial ana
rOyal government in regard 10 the eX-
portation of arms and ammunition
from the United States to the coun-
tries at war with Austria Hungary and
Germany. The government OF the
United States noted 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 ammunl-
ton from the United States Is prompt
ed BY its intention to maintain the
strictest neutrality and to conform
to the letter of the provisions OF In
ternational treaties but is surprised
TO find the imperial and royal gov
ernment implying that the observance
of the strict principles of the law un-
der the conditions which have devel-
oped in the present war is insufficient.
and asserting that this government
should go beyond the long recognized
rules governing such traffic by neu-
trails and adopt measures TO maintain
an attitude OF strict parity with respect
to both belligerent parties.
ITO this assertion of an obligation
to change or modify the rules OF in
ternational usage on account OF special
conditions the government of the Unit
ed States cannot acCede. The recogni-
ton of an obligation of this sort un-
known. to the international practice
of the past, would impose upon every
neutral nation duty TO sit in judg-
ment on the progress Of war and TO
restrict its commercial intercourse
with a belligerent whose naval sue
cesses prevented the neutral from
trade with the enemy. The contention
of the imperial and royal government
appears to be that the advantages
gained TO belligerent by its superior
itv on the sea should be equaliZed by
the neutral powers by the establish
ment of a system OF on-intercourse
with the victor. The imperial and
royal government confines its COM
ments to arms and ammunition. but.
if the principle for which 1t contends
is sound. il should apply with equal
force TO all articles of cOntraband. A
belligerent controlling the high seas
might possess an ample supply Of arms
and ammunition. but be in want of
food and clothing. on the novel prin-
ciple that equalization IS a neutral
duty neutral nations would be obli-
gated to place an embargo on such
articles because Of Of the belligerents
could not obtain them through COM
mercial intercourse.
But. if this principle. so strongly
urged by the imperial and royal gov
ernment should be admitted 10 OBJ
tain by reason of the superiority of a
belligerent at sea. ought 1t not TO op-
crate equally as 10 a belhgerent su-
perior on land2 Apply this theory OF
equalization. a belli erent who lacks
the necessary munitions TO contend
successfully on land ought to be per-
mitted TO purchase them from neu-
trails. while "A belligerent with an
abundance of war stores or with the
power TO produce them should be de-
! barred from such traffic.
"Nfanifestly the idea OF strict neu-
trality now advanced 10y the imperial
| and royal government would involve
| a neutral nation in mass of perpleN-
I titles which would obscure the whole
neld of international obligation. pro-
duce economic confusion and deprive
iau commerce and industry of legiti-
mate fields OF enterprise. already heav-
I nv burdened 10y the unavoidable re-
strictions OF war
In this connection II is pertinent 90
direct the attention OF the imperial
and roval government 10 the fact that
I AIstria-Hungary and Germany, par
I ficulaflv the latter have during the
/ ve irs preceding the present European
war produced a great surplus OF arms
and ammunition which they sold
throughout the world and especially
I 20 belhgerents. Never during that pc
riod did either or them suggest or
apply the principle now advocated by
the imperial and royal government
Daring the Boer war between
Greet Britain and the south African
re- publics the patrol OF the coasts Of
neighhoring neutral colonies hy Brit
ish naval vessels prevented arms and
ammunitions reaching the Transvaal
or the Orange Free state. 'rhe allied