Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-17
AUSTRIA EXPLAINS
REASONS FOR NOTE
Sent Only Now When 1t Cannot
Be Interpreted as Appeal
for Help in Distress.
NOT INSPIRED BY GERMANY
Protest Against Traffic in War
Munitions Is as Speech of
Friend to Friend.

VIENNA. July 16 fvia London)-
From a high Authoritative source at
the Foreign OIice. representative of
the Associated Press has received an
explanation of the motives said TO have
inspired the dispatch of the Austro-
Hungarian note TO tho United States
regarding American traffic in war mu-
nitions.
The Austro- Hungarian statesman
who spoke said that. although the facts
on which the note is based had been in
existence for long time. the COM
muncation was sent only now. when.
after great victories in c;alicia /, could
not be interpreted as a cry for help
from land in distress. He disavowed
any idea that the note was sent at the
request or inspiration Of Germany. as
sertinG that the step was taken spon-
taneously. with the hope that owing
to tho undisturbed friendly relations
between Austria Hungary and tho
United states. the note would be as
su"eh :; sympathetic reception.
The note" said this statesman. "is
inspired by friendly feelings of the
monarchr towards the Union where so
many of our subjects have found a
second home. 1t is the speech of a
friend TO "A friend--an attitude which
we. are the more justified in taking be-
cause the relations Of the two states
have. as matter OF fact. never been
clouded
REASON FOR APPEARANCE
At PARTICULAR TINt:
IT might perhaps easily be a source
OF wonder that, since the basic grounds
of the note have been in existence for
months, the note was not sent long
ago. but there is a reason for it's an
pearance at this particular time In
viow of incredible rumorS and reports
about the condition of the monarchy
circulated throughout the United
states. this note surely would have
been interpreted at AN earlier stage
Of events as confession of weakness.
as an appeal for help in distress To-
day. when rich harvest is being gar
nered throughout the monarchy. when
talk OF starving out Austria Hungary.
therefore. is rendered idle. when COM
plants OF shortages of ammunition are
heard everywhere else except in the
allied central monarchies. there cannot
be the slightest question of this.
'On the other hand ii might he
asked why the note. under these con-
ditions. was issued at ali. With moth
ing TO check the victorious progress of
the central powers in sight. with their
abiiity 10 meet pressure IN the
economic field demonstrated. il might
well he thought that il is "A matter
Of Indifference 10 them whether Amer
lea continues her policy OF not. That,
however. is not the case. The prob-
lens of international law which this
war has brought up are of far-reachinc
importance. The solutions reached
will be standards of action for decades
TO come.
NUMBERS OF ARGUMENTS
ESCAPE CONSIDERATION
For eminently practical as we'll as
theoretical reasons. therefore, the
monarchy is forced now not only TO
concern itself with the questions of
the da%. but also to feel its responsi-
bility towards the future interests of
mankind, and for this reason the gov
ernment thought ii necessary TO. ap-
proach the subject under discussion
the more, too. because il felt that the
previous debate. pro and con. had not.
as IL wished. led to the desired result.
and because il believed that numbers
OF arguments specially laid down in
The Hague convention hitherto had
escaped consideration.
1T may. of course, be assumed that
the note is the product of mature con-
sideration, and was drafted after con-
sultation with international law eX-
pcrts of the first rank. The absence
of the slightest hostile intent in il
against the Union is shown not only
by the opening phrases, but by the fact
that II was published only after il
leaked out in the United States that
there was no objection to its publica-
ton.
THE question of whether Austria
Hungary feels that she is being cut
off by America may be answered un-
reservedly in the affirmative. The
military monarchy can. and will. con-
tinuc the war as long as necessary.
The population will, as hitherto. suf-
fer neither starvation nor material
want. But there are other interests
than those connected primarily with
war every government is bound TO con-
slider. and unhampered trade relations
with the United States are of the
greatest Importance to us
Finally, not only material, also |
might say sentimental. interests play
certain role not to he underestimated
among the people. Many warm friends
of America among us are painfully
affected by the fact that actual condi-
tions give the impression that America.
even though unintentionally, differ
entiates between the helliserents"