New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915 | Page 9

Press has received an explanation of
the motives that are said to have inspired the dispatch of the
Austro-Hungarian note to the United States regarding the American
traffic in war munitions.
The Austro-Hungarian statesman who spoke said that, although the
facts upon which the note was based had been in existence for a long
time, the communication was sent only now, when, after great victories
in Galicia, it could not be interpreted as a cry for help from a land in
distress. He disavowed in advance any idea that the note was sent at the
request or inspiration of Germany, asserting that the step was taken
spontaneously in the hope that, owing to the undisturbed friendly
relations between Austria-Hungary and the United States, the note
would be assured a sympathetic reception in the latter country.

"The note," said this statesman, "is inspired by friendly feelings of the
monarchy toward the Union, where so many of our subjects have found
a second home. It is the speech of a friend to a friend--an attitude which
we are the more justified in taking because the relations of the two
states have never been clouded.
"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 its appearance at this particular
time. In view of the incredible rumors and reports about the condition
of the monarchy which have been circulating throughout the United
States, this note would surely have been interpreted at an earlier stage
of events as a confession of weakness, as an appeal for help in distress.
Today, when a rich harvest is being garnered throughout the monarchy,
when talk of starving out Austria-Hungary therefore is rendered idle,
when complaints of shortage of ammunition are heard everywhere else
except in the allied central monarchies, there cannot be the slightest
question of this.
"On the other hand, it might be asked why the note, under these
conditions, was issued at all. With nothing to check the victorious
progress of the central powers in sight, with their ability to meet
pressure in the economic field demonstrated, it might well be thought
that it is a matter of indifference to them whether America continues
her policy or not. That, however, is not the case. The problems of
international law which this war has brought up are of far-reaching
importance. The solutions reached will be standards of action for
decades to come.
"For eminently practical as well as theoretical reasons, therefore, the
monarchy is forced now not only to concern itself with the questions of
the day, but also to feel its responsibility toward the future interests of
mankind; and for this reason the Government thought it necessary to
approach the subject under discussion--the more so because it felt that
the previous debate pro and con had not, as it wished, led to the desired
result, and because it believed that numbers of arguments specially laid
down in The Hague Convention hitherto had escaped consideration.

"It may, of course, be assumed that the note is a product of mature
consideration, and was drafted after consultation with international law
experts of the first rank. The absence of the slightest hostile intent in it
against the Union is shown not only by the opening phrases, but by the
fact that it was published only after it leaked out in the United States
that there was no objection to its publication.
"The question of whether Austria-Hungary feels that she is being cut
off by America may be answered unreservedly in the affirmative. The
military monarchy can and will continue the war as long as necessary.
The population will, as hitherto, suffer neither starvation nor material
want. But there are other interests than those connected primarily with
war which every Government is bound to consider, and unhampered
trade relations with the United States are of the greatest importance to
us.
"Finally, not only material, also I might say sentimental, interests play a
certain rôle not to be underestimated among the people. Many warm
friends of America among us are painfully affected by the fact that
actual conditions give the impression that America, even though
unintentionally, differentiates between the belligerents.
"Austro-Hungarian statesmen, conscious of the great rôle that America
will be called upon to play in the future, would forget their duty if they
neglected to do everything in their power to clear away the
circumstances that shake the confidence of the bravely fighting armies
and the whole population in the justice of America. It is clear that the
war would have been ended long ago if America had not supplied our
enemies with the means of continuing it.
"The assumption that the Austro-Hungarian note was sent