The Alaska daily empire., 1915-08-06
suPMENT 0F MI MUNITIONS

Recently a newspaper printed in German at Seat te referring to the shipment of war munitions to the Allies said that the United States tho silent part ner of Russia" in the European war. The American citizens of Seattle protested The German consul at that place spoke up condeuning the strongest terms the use of such language saying that the United States was entirely within her rights when she sold war mu- nions to any of the begerents that would purchase them To the credit of the stockholders of the German paper be 1t said that they immediately asked for re- cciver and Che editor removed.
 It is worthy of mention. also. that Jane Addams, called by many authorities the leading woman citizen of America" and admitted at home and abroad to be one of the strongest the worlds peace advocates rec enty returned from Europe with her mind changed about the sale munitions to European countries She said that she discussed the question of the ship ment by citizens of the United States of munitions to the Allies with Count Won Jagow, German Foreign Minister and he told her that the United States is well within her rights and that she is but following GUS tom that Germany and all of the other countries of Europe have followed in the past custom sanctioned by international law.
 President Wilson has sad and he said it after thor ough investigation and legal counsel that if the United States should refuse to permit her citizens to sell war munitions to a foreign country it would be an "un- friendly act toward the foreign country. Former Sec reary of State Root. President Taft and Sen ator Lodge leading Republican member of the Senate foreign affairs committee have agreed with the Presi dent
 Recently after he had practically acceDad an inyi tation to speak before meeting California laborngl men. Bryan leader among the paeiasts declined the invitation when he learne dthat 1t proposed to in- troduce resolution conforming the shipment of mu ntons of war Go the belHgerent Nations of Europe He said that the United States could refuse to permit her citizens to exercise that right without violating the rules of international law and that the rules of n ternatonal law could not be changed while war is in progress without permission Of all those engaged in the war.
 Further than that if wrong for manufacturers to sell munitions of war to foreign country the little Nations of Europe would be compelled to disband their armies because b would be impossible for them to keep in running order factories to make cannon and war munitions so that they would be prepared to defend themselves or their neutrality. Switzerland and Ho land have large armies the field for the purpose of preventing Che violation Of their neutrality. They prob ably have not a sufficient quantity of ammunition to last month case those armies should become engaged f they should be refused the privilege Of purchasing ann munton from factories in the countries that are not at war; they would be helpless.
 The rule of international law that permits try at war to purchase supplies from countries not at war was made in the interest of economy War is certainly was,efu enough under any circumstances. would be much more wasteful # every eountry-coun tries like Holland and Switzerland and Denmark wen as those which are larger-were compelled to maintain their own factories to make heavy cannon field arti lery machine guns. rifles ammunition. automobiles copper cotton freight cars. aircraft clothing for sol diers farms to raise their cavalry and work mules. and to provide all the other things that have been classified as contraband Of war it would make it many times more wasteiuL
 lt might be said that it would be better to make it so but that would bear hardest on the little countries But right or wrong it would be manitesty unfair to change the rules ot the game while war is actually progress It would be fair quit at a time when
 change would work to the advantage disadvantage of one side of che other in war.
 Newspapers printed in the United States which constantly berate their own country for maintaining
 strict neutrality under Che of international law are little less than reasonable In principle, they are no less They inspire Hots and other dynamiters to destroy capitol buildings ammunition factories ships bridges. powder eargoes and murder American citi zeus. They are lacking in patriotism and the quali ties of good citizenship.
 AMERICAS CONTROVERSY WITH ENGLAND.