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Show AMERICANS REJECT AUSTRIAN PROTEST STATE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS RIGHT OF AMERICANS TO SHIP AMMUNITION TO ALLIES. Reasons Based on International Law, a Feature of the Answer Being the Claim That Germany Sold England Munitions During Boer War. Washington. The state department on August 15 gave out the text of this government's reply to the protest pro-test of Austria-Hungary against the shipment of arms and ammunition to the allies. The note rejects all of Austria's contentions. The reasons given by the United States for its position are: "The principles of international law. the practice of nations, the national safety of the United States and other nations without great military and naval establishments; the prevention of Increased armies and navies, the adoption of peaceful methods for the adjustment of International difficultly difficul-tly av 1 finally neutrality Itself." The reply says that if neutnrfs were compelled to prevent sales to belligerents bellig-erents all nations would be obliged to have "at all times sufficient munitions of war to meet any emergency." The United States has always de pended on the right and power to purchase pur-chase arms and ammunition from neutral neu-tral nations In case of foreign attack. In consequence of its standing policy, the United States would, says the note, "in the event of attack by a for-lgn for-lgn power, he at the outset of the war seriously, if not fatally, embarrassed by the lack of anus and ammunition ami by the means to product them in sufficient quantities to supply the re i quirements of nailousl defense." I One of the features of the reply Is i the assertion that during the Boer war Germany sold war supplies to Great Britain ami that Austria Hungary sold them to the same purchaser, "though in smaller quantities." The note recites that as Great Brit aiu had established a patrol of the coasts of adjacent neutral colonies during that war the situation of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State was almost Identical with that In which "Austria-Hungary and Germany find themselves at the present time." The point Ih made that if Austria ami Germany had refused to sell nrms and ammunition to Great Britain at that time, Austria "might with greater consistency and greater force urge Its present contention." It Is stated also that Prussian lnanu facturera sold arms to Russia during the Crimean war and that Germany sold arms to the Turkish government In the recent war between Turkey and Italy. |
