New-York tribune., 1912-03-14
70 STOP TRADE IN ARMS
Senate Votes President Author
ity TO Handle Vexe6 Question.


Washington, March l%.-On the iui-
tiatiye Of President Tat; steps Were
taken to-day to pvt an end TO the ship
mcnt Of arms and munitions of war from
the United states into McE.co. The
President called q conference Of the
members OF the Senate Committee On
Foreign Relations and members Of the
Texas delegation i'm Congress 1t tho
White House this morning. In accord
ance with N" decision reached 1T the
conference Senator Root introduced a
Joint resolution giving the President au-
thority to prohibit the traffic in arms.
This was promptly reported by the For
eign Relations Committee and adopted
by the Senate 1t will he passed by the
House tomorrow.
The resolution passed by the Senate
j. u0minally an amendment Of a similar
resolution adopted in the Spanish war
for the purpose Of prohibiting the export
Of coal from the lnited States for tha
use Of the Spanish vessels. 1t reads as
follows.
conditions Of domestic violence exist in
any American country which are pro-
NOTED by the use OF arms or munitions
OF war procured from the United States.
the Pres dent is hereby authorized in
his discretion, and with such limitations
and exceptions as shall seem to him ex-
pedient to prohibit the export Of arms
Or munitions Of war from any place in
the United States TO such country until
or
BY Congress.
The shipment Of any material prohb-
TIED by any such proclamation shall be
punishable by fine not exceeding S10,-
GOO or imprisonment not exceeding two
years. or both.
Many Americans lmperlied.
Thousands Of Americans in Mexico"
SAID Mr. Root, ARE fleeing from their
homes abandoning their occupations
mines and possessions, their lives i'm
Ierilled by arms and ammunition sold
in The United States"
conditions on ,he Mexican border"
added senator Bacon, are not such as
10 require a proclamation Of neutrality,
but they are of such Importance as to
rcau.ro something short Of that"
Senator Sh.ycly, another member of the
Committee on Foreign Relations, also
urged the immediate adoption of the
measure which was done promptly with
out objection.
The traffic in arms across the Mexican
border affords one Of TIE most serious
complications i'm such situation as now
exists iu Mexico. Americans are exceed
Me.y active i'm supplying arms and sup
plies I, the revolutionary forces. There
is one establishment on an island in the
Hudson not far from New York City.
which bays up the discarded rifles of the
army and is said 20 DE able 10 supply
arms :gr ten thousand men on short
notice
Iho.ah designed primarily to meet the
Detects ul the present neutrality laws. 70
'h..h the McHicau government called
Tie Presidents attention, the resolution
when rgt into effect viii empower Prcsi-
Gent TAFT 20 prohibit at his discretion,
through "a proclamation, the expectation
O. munitions Of war 10 any country with
which the United states is al peace In
expectation Of prompt action by the
House tomorrow. where Representative
Hif."son, Of Texas. VIII take charge Of
'he measure, Treasury Department and
War Department officials tonight issued
Instructions virtually haltin; all ship
ments Of arms into Mexico until the res
oiution Is declared effective.
Stopping Loophoes in Law.
Lonphoics for the violation Of neutral
"y laws admittedly arc many, ana pro-
itssiou" promoters of revolutions in
Latin America, through varying devices,
nave succeeded in evading the statutes
10 eradicate tins The President told
members Of the Foreign Relations Com
h.t'eo and ;he Texas delegation that he
lared Discretionary authority to rule
~ individual cases or It would he diff
COatiHCed OH nth PAGE.