AUSTRIA AND UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2578, 28 September 1915, Page 6

AUSTRIA AND UNITED STATES

| THE MUNITIONS DISPUTE ANOTHER NOTE PROM VIENNA By (Meira-pS-PMJs Asiociation-Coryrijit ' Amsterdami September 26. 'Austria lias replied to the American Note issued in August regarding arms for neutrals, declaring that she does not change her opinion regarding the American export of munitions, and does not object to normal traffic in war material, but the United States has become militarise!! because its economic life has. become subservient to the production of war material on the greatest possible scale. Concentration thereupon means effective support of the Allies. Excessive export of munitions was inadmissible, even if supplied to both belligerent parties. '

America, in her answer to the AustroHungarian demands for a cessation of the supply of war munitions to the Allies,' asserted that Austria herself always supplied munitions whenever she got the chance to any belligerent able to take them. It is also pointed out that the Austrian Government must have been misled' into thinking that America, could depart from proper neutrality by preventing any .nation" able to ship munitions to Europe securing them. The Note stresses the fact that Germany and Austria supplied Britain with munitions during tue Boer war, despite the Boers' commercial isolation. Striking sentences in the reply wore as follow: .''The United States deems', it unnecessary to extend further' at the, present, time : the consideration, of /tlie , Austria-Hungary: Government's statement.'' The- principles of; international .law, the.:practice of nations, the national "safety of . . the United States and other nations without great military and naval the prevention of increased' armies and navies, ■ the adoption of peaceful methods for the adjustment of international differences, and'finally, neutrality .itself, are ■opposed to the prohibition by. a neutral nation of, the exportation of arms and ammunition, or other mui itions of war, ; tobelligerent -Powers during the progress of-the "It has been 'the policy of this country t-o maintain in time of peace a large military establishment or stores of arms arid ammunition sufficient to repel invasion by a well-equipped and powerful enemy. It lias desired to remain et' peace with all nations and to avoid any appearance of menacing such 'peace by tne threat of •its armies,and navies. In consequence of this standing policy, the United States would, in the event of attackby a, foreign Power, be it 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 ammunition from neutral nations'in case of foreign -attack. : This privilege - which.- it claims for itself it cannot deny to others." ;