The Washington herald., 1914-04-24
Lodge Criticises President for
Failing to Restore Arms
Embargo.>
WITHDRAW, SAYS BORAH
Declares United States Unpopular
Among Nations Because 1t NEEDLES
in Other Countries Business.

For nearly three hours the Senate de-
hated the Mexican situation yesterday.
At times the debate was almost sensa-
tional in its earnestness. Senator Lodge
sharply criticised the President for his
failure to restore the embargo against
shipments of arms and munitions Of war
from the United States into northern
Mexico. Senator Borah, of Idaho, de-
clared that the Senate ought to take &C
tion to recognize state OF war with
Mexico. He also criticised the Mexican
policy.
Senator Weeks declared that several
- days ago the general board of the army
had recommended to the President that
the embargo be restored, but the recon-
meDdation had been ignored. Senator
Lewis defended the administration, and
charged that Republican Senators were
trying to make political capital out Of the
situation. Senator Fall and Senator Gal
linger sharply resented this, and Senator
Rorah took the floor a second time to
remind Mr.. Lewis that the Senate was
part of the war-making power OF the
government, and that Senators had a
right to speak on the Mexican crisis.
Senator Lodges speech probably made
the strongest impression on the Senate
because he was so severe on the Presi-
dents policy in regard TO the embargo.
The Senator declared that he was at a
loss to explain it
is it possible" he exclaimed. that
our relations with Pancho Villa have
reached such a stage that we cannot
act in this matter"
s5OO,nPO Bill Passed.
The debate started when Senator Mar
tin. chairman of the Appropriations Com
mittee, reported a bill appropriating
$500. 900 to bring American citizens out Of
Mexico. This is the dill that passed the
House Wednesday in response to a mes
sage from the President recommending
il.
The Senate passed the bill finally with
out a dissenting vote Just before the
measure was put to a. vote. Senator
Rorah took the floor and voiced his feel
ings on the Mexican crisis.
Senator Lodge followed Mr.. Borah-
After saying he approved of the appro-
priaticn and would vote for every dol
lar the President might regard as neces-
sary to carry on the conflict, the Senator
said:
The other night the amazing spectacle
was presented of a majority OF the SEN
ate deliberately voting down PROPOSE
ton to give protection TO the life and
property of American citizens That was
the. naked proposition embodied in the
amendment of the Senator from New
Hampshire. Mr.. GaIiinger.
IT am sorry 10 say I am forced to think
the real underlying reason for eXclud-
ing tie proposition of the Senator from
New Hampshire authorizing the Presi-
dent to protect tine lives and property Of
American citizens was that if that amend
ment had been adopted it would have
complicated the Presidents relations with
Pancho Villa and Carranza. That amend
ment would have required protection to
our citizens in the northern provinces,
where the danger is greatest. Protection
in the northern provinces might have in
terfered with some of the bands now
operating under Carranza and Villa
I'VE have read the statements from our
quondam allies in the newspapers this
morning. They have already drifted away.
Three or four days ago 200 stands of
arms went over the Mexican border to
Villa. Some have gone over since, I am
told, though 1 do not know how truly.
Reason May BE Good.
This movement at Vera Cruz was pre-
cipitated for the military reason which
/ do not question to be a sound one from
a military point of view, that It was
necessary to seize the arms going to
Huerta, because these arms would be
used against the forces of the United
States And yet arms were allowed to
go over the northern Doroer at tne same
time
You cannot do anything more for your
allies than that. Yet now we see that
Carranza disapproves Of what has been
done at Vera Cruz. 1t will be but a
short time before those men OF the north
are united with the rest of Mexico against
us. 1t is not an unreasonable anticipa-
tion. Why are we not taking the ordin-
airy precautions there? They will be used
against our forces within thirty days.
But say, Mr.. President, that the time
has come to stop. as we have stopped at
Vera Cruz, the admission of arms into
the Mexican republic. That is the surest
way to bring this war to a close. / do
not want to see these people furnished
with weapons"
Il should like to call my colleagues
attention" suggested Senator Weeks, of
Massachusetts,, ito the fact that at a
meeting of the joint army and navy
board yesterday 1t was unanimously
recommended that the embargo on arms
into Mexico be restored. So the President
has the humanitarian reason, the reason
of self-interest, and the reason of his
military advisers for acting promptly"
That is accurate" said Mr.. Lodge.
Gen. Leonard Wood. at the head of the
army, and those associated with him on
the general stan, have been importuning
the President for a week to place an
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