The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-16
FLAT REJECTION OF AUSTRIAN VIEWS BY
 THE UNITED STATES


 THE UNITED STATES
 (Continued From Page One.)
 during that period did either of then, suggest or apply the principle now advo- cated by the imperial and royal govern ment.
 Precedents Recited
 During the Boer war between Great Britain and the South African republics the patrol of the coasts of neighboring neutral colonies by British naval vessels prevented arms and ammunition reaching the Transvaal or the Orange Free State. The allied republics were in situation almost identical in that respect with that which Austria-Hungary and Germany find themselves at the present time. Yet, in spite of the commercial isolation of one belligerent, Germany sold to Great Bri- tain, the other belligerent hundreds of thousands of kilos of explosives gun powder, cartridges, shot and weapons; and it is known that Austria-Hungary also sold similar munitions to the same purchaser though in smaller quantities. While, as compared with the present war. the quantities sold were small Ca table of the sales is appended), the principle of neutrality involved was the same. If at that time Austria Hungary and her present ally had refused to sell arms and ammunition to Great Britain on the ground that to do so would violate the spirit of strict neutrality the imperial and royal government might with greater consistency urge its present contention.
 German Practices
 It might be further pointed out that during the Crimean war large quantities of arms and military stores were. fur nished to Russia by Prussian manufac- turers: that during the recent war be- tweeen Turkey and Italy, as this govern- ment is advised, arms and ammunition were furnished to the Ottoman govern ment by Germany; and that during the Balkan wars the belligerents were sup piled with munitions by both Austria and Germany. While these lat ter cases are not analogous as is the case of the South African war, to the situation of Austria Hungary and Germany in the present war they nevertheless clearly in- dicate the longe established practice of the two empires in the matter of trade in war supplies.
 In view of the foregoing statements, this government is reluctant to believe the imperial and royal government will 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 cir cumstances of the present war prevent from obtaining such supplies from the markets of the United States which have been and remain, so far as the action and policy of this gov ernment are concerned, open to all bel ligerents alike.
 Neutral Rights Upheld
 +1o of r,rfr ciple there is a practical and substantial reason why the government of the United States has from the foundation of the republic to the present time advocated and practiced unrestricted trade In arms and military supplies. It has never been the policy of this country to maintain in time of peace a large military establish msnt or store of arms and ammunition sufficient to repel invasion by we'll equipped and powerful enemy It has desired to remain at peace with all na- tions and to avoid any appearance of menacng such peace by the threat of it's armies and navies In consequence of this standing policy of the United States would in the event of attack by for eign power, be at the outset of the war seriously. if not fatally, embarrassed by the lack of arms and ammunition and by the means to produce them in suf-
  ments of national defense. The United States has always depended upon the right and power to purchase arms and ammuntions from neutral nations in case of foreign attack. That right, which 1t claims for itself, it cannot deny to others.
 A nation whose principal and policy it Is to rely upon international obliga- tions and international justice to pre- serve It's political and territorial integ- rity might become the prey of an az eressive nation whose policy and prae- tice it is to increase it's military strength during times of peace with the design of conquest, unless the nation attacked can, after war had been de- clared, go into the markets of the world and purchase the means to de- fend itself against the aggressor. Necessity for Purchasing Ammunition
 The general adoption by the nations of the world of the theory that neutra powers ought to prohibit the sale oi arms and ammunition to belligerents would compel every nation to have 1T readiness at all times sufficient muni- tions of war to meet any emergency which might arise and to erect ant maintain ablishments for the manu facture of arms and ammunition suf ticient to supply the needs of its mill tary and naval forces throughout thu progress of war. Manifestly the appli cation of this theory would result 1T every nation becoming an armed camp ready to resist aggression and tempted to employ force in asserting it's right. rather than appeal to reason and justice for the settlement of international dis putes.
 Perceiving, as it does, that the adop ton of the principle that 1t is the dut, of a neutral to prohibit the sale of arm. and ammunition to belligerent dur ing the progress of a war would inevi tably give the advantage to the bel ligerent which had encouraged the man ufacture of munitions in time of peac, and which had laid in vast stores O arms and ammunition in anticipation O war, the government of the United States Is convinced that the adoption o the theory would force militarism ol the world and work against that uni versal peace which is the desire ant purpose of all nations which exalt jus tice and righteousness in their relation with one another.
 The government of the United State In the foregoing discussion of the prac tical reason why it has advocated ant practiced trade in munitions of wal wishes to be understood as speaking with no thought of expressing, or i'm plying any judgment with regard to tn circumstances of the present war; bu as merely putting very frankly the ar eument in this matter which has beel conclusive in determining the polio of the United States
 South African War
 While the practice of nations, so wei illustrated by the practice of Austria Hungary and Germany during the Soul