The Washington herald., 1915-08-17

None but Tcuton diplomat may ever know
what it was hoped could be accomplished by Aus
tria- -Hungarys request that the United States up
set the law of nations and the rules of neutrality
| and keep munitions of war out of the hands OF
the British and their allies. So far as may be
judged at present, this most extraordinary appeal
has accomplised but thing-a clear and un-
mistakable definition of the position of the United
States with relation to the expectation of war
munitions that should serve guide for for
eign powers and for individual and organized agi-
tators in this country for the remainder of the
war. 1t cannot be assumed, however, that this
was the result sought by the Teutonic allies.
So far as Austria-Hungary was concerned its
communication might have been dismissed with
curt reply, calling attention to its lack of any
claim to consideration but the administration took
advantage of the opportunity and the result is
one of the most interesting documents that has
come recently from the Presidents council table.
Austra-Hungary is swept from its false posi-
ton, evidently assumed by design, in few
phrases of undisgused meaning 1t was quite
sufficient to inform the government at Vienna that
its contention appears to be that the advantages
gained to a belligcrcnt by its superiority the
sea should be equalized by the neutral powers by
with the victor" that the same contention would
logically apply to exports of all sorts, and that
applying this theory of equalization belligerent
who lacks the necessary munitions to contend
cessfully on land ought to be permitted to pur-
chase them from ncutrals while belligerent with
an abundance of war stores with the power to
produce them should be debarred from such traf
fc" Reduced thus to simple terms, the utter abb
surdity of Austria Hungarys appeal and, incident
ally of the pro-Gcrman claim in this country was
made strkingly apparent
The chief interest here in the reply of the
United States, however, will attach to that por-
tion which sets forth policy which more direct
ly concerns the welfare of own country.
Having made it quite clear that the course of the
United States is in strict accordance with the
principles involved, Secretary Lansing shows how
vitality important it is to the preservation of the
United States that those principles shall not be
impaired, much less sacrificed, by this government.
He says:
"Thc United States has always depended upon
the right and power to purchase and ammu-
milton from neutral nations in of foreign at
tack. This right, which it claims for ITSELF it
not deny to others.
"A nation whose principle and policy it is
to rely upon international obligations and inter
national to preserve political and terri
torial integrity might become the prey of an ag-
grcssvc nation whose policy and practice it is to
increase its military strength during times OF peace
with the design OF conquest. unless the nation at
tackled can, after had been declared. so into
the markets of the world and purchase the means
to defend itself against the aggressor."
This is language that cannot be misunderstood.
1t should have the effectsof finally scncing those
Americans who demanding that we violate the
laws of neutrality, place embargo on the ex-
portation of arms, and imperil our future.
Those who persist in this sort of clamor should
have the dcccncy to declare their allegiance ia
other country.