The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-16
Answer Sent to Ambassador
P~enfield for Delivery to
Foreign Office.
NEUTRALITY Is UPHELD

the note sent by the United states tc
Austria in reply to that country's pro.
test against shipments of arms and am.
munition from here was given out to-
night. II is as follows:
The Secretary OF State to Ambassa-
dor. Penfeld:
Department OF State, Washington
August IL. 1915.
Please present a note to the Royal
Foreign Office in reply to its note Of
June 80. In the following sense
The Government OF the United
States has given careful consideration
to the statement OF the Imperial and
Royal Government In regard to 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 notes with satisfac-
ton the recognition by the Imperial
and Royal Government Of the un-
doubted fact that its attitude with re-
gard to the expectation of arms and
ammunition from the United States Ia
prompted 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 ind the Imperial and Royal Gov
rnmen implying that the observance
OF the stree principles of the law
under the conditions which have de-
veloped In the present war Is Insult
ficient. and asserting that this Gov
ernment should go beyond the long
recognized rules governing such traffic
hN nAufFnla aud nhnnt sNNAnunEAa -
maintain an attitude OF strict parity
with respect to both b%elligerent par
ties
4. y. Cannot Accede to Demand.
To this assertion Of an obligation
to change or modify the rules Of inter-
national usage on account OF special
conditions the Government OF the
United States cannot accede. The rec
ognition Of an obligation OF this sort,
unknown to the international practice
of the past. would impose upon every
neutral nation a duty TO sit in Judg-
ment on the progress OF n war and to
restrict Its commercial intercourse
with a %belligerent whose naval sue
cessss prevented the neutral from
trade with the enemy. The contention
OF the Imperial and Royal Govern
meat appears to be that the advan-
tages gained to a belligerent by it's
superiority on the seas should be
equallized by the Neutral powers by
the establishment OF a system of non-
intercourse with the victor. The I'M
perial and Royal Government confines
its to arms n ammuni-
ton. but II the principle for which II
contends Is sound II 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 he in want
of food and clothing. on the novel
principle that equalization is a neu-
trail duty neutral nations would be
obligated TO place an embargo on
such articles because one of the bellig-
erents could not obtain them through
commercial intercourse.
But II this principle, so strongly
urged by the Imperial and Royal Gov
eminent. should be admitted TO obtain
by reason Of superiority of a belliger-
ent at sea-. ought II not to operate
equally as to a ~belligerent superior on
land Applying this thcory OF edusiiza-
tion. a belligerent which lacks the
necessary munitions to contend suc
cessfully on land ought to be permitted
to purchase them from neutrals. while
a belligerent with an abundance of
war stores or with the power TO pro-
duce them should be debarred from
such traffic.
Manifestly the idea Of strict neu-
trality now advanced by the Imperial
and Royal Government would involve
a neutral nation in a mass OF perplexi-
ties which would obscure the whole
field OF international obligation. pro-
duce economic confusion and deprive
all commerce and industry of legiti-
mate fields Of enterprise. already
heavily burdened by the unavoidable
restrictions OF war.