Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-09-11
AMER1cA's POSITION PLAIN.

"a Involve other diplomats representing tn,
1ermanic Allies in the United States ma,
bring crisis comparable to that created b,
the sinking Of the Lusitallia.
Certainly no foreign diplomat who attempt.
10 insti6ate disorders in the United States car
be tolerated. It matters not that the trade ht
tries to hamper is a trade in munitions. There
Is not The slightest question in the minds Of
tair mell who know international law that ths
United States, in refusing to declare an Elm.
baIgo on the shipment of munitions, holds an
rnimpeaehable position
Those who attack this position cannot quote
authority for their attacks. They have had to
tall backon two arguments first that it is un.
wise for the United States to stir up hostile
sentiment in Germany by allowing the exporta-
ton Of arms when Germany is unable to get
them; secondly, that though perhaps interna-
t'onal lsw formerly recognized the sale and
shipment of war supplies as right, the circum-
stances d this war have changed international
law.
PROFESSIONALLY the strong, active, deeply
wrought supporters of the Teutonic nations,
ia their declarations that the munitions trade
IS wrong, have aided and allotted these diplo-
mats who transgress propriety and encourage
plots against American industry
Yet we doubt if the great body of American
|iIizens Of GelTnanic extraction will endorse or
Justify the diplomats il lis conclusiyely shown
that these diplomats or their agents have taken
part ii the alleged plots. Though their sym
|1thies are with the Central Empires, such
['Iizens cannot excuse conspiracy against the
adopted land whose peace and honor they have
sworn to uphold
When the first exposures Of the so-called
activities Of German agents were made in the
New York World the Germans under fire made
prompt reply. They declared that innocent
bets had been misconstrued The American
government is not proceeding on hearsay evi-
|e1ce and If the acts were innocent, the agents
will not suffer There is yet d vast mass Of
Ionlor 10 be separated from fact and it is we'll
10 wait for this winnowing of the wheat and
The ehaff, the true and the false Press des-
patches, however; indicate that DR.. Dumba has
admitted at least part of the serious charges
against him. SO that his recall cannot be said
IS be demanded on newspaper exposes
This whole subject of international trade in
was treated at length by Secretary
81 State Lansing in his note to the Austrian
government on August II, In that note he not
only pointed out the correctness of the Ameri-
can position, but proved conclnsively that in
4 be past Germany and Austria have INDUCED
Dr6itably IN big war contracts He quoted
acts and figures showing how these Teutonic
nations; which now protest against Uncle
Sam s munition trade, held an opposite posi-
ton not many years ago.
His note reminds Austria that during the
Boer war both Austria and Germany sold mu-
nitions in huge quantities to Great Britain
when the republics of the Transvaal and thel
Orange Free State were cut off from supplies
bf the British blockade. With particularly
which must be biting to Teuton supporters, he
onotes figures as to the explosives and shot
He also reminds Austria that the Teuton ma
lions did thriving business in munitions dur
me- the Balkan wars and the Germans dealt
With Russia IN the Crimean war and with Tur-
kew IN the Turkish Italian war.
a large part of Mr.. Lansing note dealt with
i point which the Star Bulletin commented
npon several months ago that the position
AIKEN BY the United States directly helps ma
ions to keep down their armies and stores of
var supplies On this point he says:
sThe general adoption by the nations Of the
world Of the theory that neutral Powers ought
Is prohibit the sale Of arms and ammunition to |
bel6gerents would compel every nation to have |
IS readiness at all times sufficient munitions
II war to meet any emergency which might |
siise. and TO erect and maintain establishments
FOR the manufacture of arms and ammunition1
.S~gs