ified 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 Austri