New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-16

this government is reluctant TO believe
that the Imperial and Royal Govern
ment will ascribe to the United States a
lack of impartial neutrality in continu-
ing its legitimate trade in all kinds Of
supplies used to render the armed
forces of a belligerent efficient, even
though the circumstances of the pres
ent war prevent Austria-Hungary from
obtaining such supplies from the mar
kets of the United States, which have
been and remain, so far as the action
and policy of this government are con-
cerned, open to all belligerents alike.
Can't Yield Right to Buy.
"But, in addition to the question Of
principle, there is practical and sub
stantial reason why the Government Of
the United States has from the founda-
ton of the republic TO the present time
advocated and practised unrestricted
trade in arms and military supplies. It
has never been the policy OF this coun-
try to maintain in time of peace large
military establishment or stores of
arms and ammunition sufficient to repel
invasion by well equipped and power
full enemy. Il has desired to remain at
peace with all nations and TO avoid any
appearance Of menacing such peace by
the threat of its armies and navies.
an consequence of this standing
policy the United States would, in the
event of attack by foreign 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 sufficient
quantities to supply the requirements
of national defence. The United States
has always depended upon the right and
power to purchase arms and ammunl-
ton from neutral nations IN case OF
foreign attack. This right, which It
claims for itself, it cannot deny to
others.
"a nation whose principle and policy
il is TO RELY upon international Obliga-
tions and international justice to pre-
serve its political and territorial in
tegrity might become the prey Of an
aggressive nation whose policy and
practice ( is TO increase its military
strength during times of peace. with
the design of conquest, unless the ma
ton attacked can, after war had been
declared go into the markets Of the
world and purchase the means TO de-
fend itself against the aggressor
Would Become Armed Camps.
"The general adoption by the ma
tions of the world of the theory that
neutral powers ought 10 prohibit the
sale of arms and ammunition to bel
ligerents would compel every nation 70
have in readiness at all times sufficient
munitions of war to meet any emer-
gency which might arise and to erect
and maintain establishments for the
manufacture Of arms and ammunition
sufficient 10 supply the needs OF It's
military and naval forces throughout
tho progress Of a war. Manifestly, the
application. of this theory would result
in every nation becoming an armed
camp, ready to resist aggression and
tempted to employ force in asserting
its rights rather than appeal 10 reason
and justice for the settlement OF inter
national disputes.
"Perceiving as 1t does that the
adoption Of the principle that il is the
duty of a neutral TO prohibit the sale
of arms and ammunition to bel
ligerent during the progress Of war
would inevitably give the advantage TO
the belligerent which had encouraged
the manufacture Of munitions in time
of peace and which had laid in the
vast stores of arms and ammunition IN
authorization of war. the government OF
the United States is convinced that the
adoption of the theory would force
militarisn OH the world and work
against that universal peace which 10