Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-14

2 Is It right9
8. Is II expedient?
As TO the lawfuness OF the citlxens of a neutral
country dealing in munitions in time of peace
there is absolutely question. The lawfulness Of
such commerce has been affirmed again and again,
and by such American authorities Jefferson, Hai
ton, Seward Bayard. Blaine. Foster. olney and Hay.
In every belligerents have ordinarily attempted
TO secure for themselves whatever benefits they could
Germany Is not the only country which has sought to
prevent its enemies from getting mutions of war. but
belligerent has been able to show the unlaw
funess OF trade in such oontraband. 1t would weary
readers for us to quote here the decisions that
have been rendered in courts by executive officers
to the lawfulness OF such commerce 1t is fer 60
say that practice has been specifically and
uniformly upheld by international law 1t is
unneutral act for country to allow its citizens to sell
20 bellgerent what that country refuses to allow
it's citizens to sell TO another belgerent But this Il
not the at present Perhaps the tersest express
sion OF the right Is to be found In the words of Thomas
Jefferson when secretary Of state. He said in
lsS in official communication; Our citizens have
been always free to make vend and export arms
Mr. Hay. when secretary of state, said in almost
terse language ''Neutrals in their country may
sell TO begerents whatever belligerents choose to
buy" And by moro than one authority, including Mr.
Seward Dncolns secretary of state 1t is pointed out
into what tange OF law and practice the prohibition
on commerce in would involve such neutral
country as the United States <
What Austria asks of us. therefore. is not to OBJ
serve law already made. but own initiative
and by own independent action to make special
international law for its benefit
But though the export OF arms may be lawful.
the question remains whether II Is right There are
some things that the law allows which are wrong.
is this OF them? Those who hold that the maline
or export OF in time of is wrong must base
their belief the assumption that itself s neces
sarily wrong for IL It is right 20 make IT
is also right to make the instruments by which
Is waged We do not believe that American citizens
who celebrate with pride the Fourth OF July
al dav xriIl taxa fhn war IA
necessarily always wrong. IL II Was right to make
war against the British redcoats in i17e. IL It waA
right to make In defense OF the union In 1861. II
was right to make the muskets for the contnentals
and the rifles for the Army OF the Potomac. And n
II was right to make those It was right for US
10 buy them from others and for others to sell them
to us The only ground which American who
remembers the history OF his country with pride can
believe that Is wrong to export arms Is that tho
particular beligerent TO which those arms are sold Is
engaged in unhoy war This position an individual
can take but cannot ask his country 20 take that
position without asking his country to become I'M
neutral SO long. therefore an American citizen
wishes his country to remain neutral no must hold
that Il Is in accordance with good morals well as
in accordance with law for fellow countrymen OF his
TO cell 10 a begerent.
What Is both lawful and right. however may be
nexpedient Is II expedent for the United States 70
allow It's citizens 20 sell 70 foreign nations AT
war; The United States cannot advocate In this mat
ter rule which cannot be universally applied. To
oppose the selling OF to other nations means 20
advocate the rule that nation she'll use any arms
except those that IL manufactures itself This would
mean that Switzerland little country. surrounded BY
great nations would have to tax itself for the man
tcnance OF great arms factories II It were going to
defend itself against enemies II would mean that so
| long as the possibility OF and the consequent
necessity OF defensive war exist every country would
have 20 adopt militartsm OF Germany and estab.
lsh for itself Krupp works; that every country
matter how devoted to peace II was. wouki have 10
keep armed TO the teeth Il would mean specifically
that tho United would have 10 deny itself the
right 10 buy arms from other nations In time OF
and therefore would have 20 prepare at once greei
| stores Of ammunition and keep those stgorea
| OF ammunition not only repienished but also
renewed with every advance IN the science Of warfare
The very statement OF this fact shows that rule
/ pedient