Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-23

LODGE MAKES ATTACK
Act Would Leave United
States in Imminent
Danger Of War.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Attrbut-
ing 10 the administration an intention
to buy German ships interned IN
American ports II the ship purchase
bill is passed. Senator Lodge today de-
clared in the senate that tho measure
would bring MS within measurable
distance OF war, not with England
alone. but with France, Russia and
Japan"
lie quoted from house committee
hearings TO show Secretary McAdoo
practically had admitted the purpose
of the bill was TO buy the German
ships' laid mp in Boston and New
York, If such were not the purpose,
senator Lodge suggested that the i'm
preston now general could be cor
rected by an amendment, which, he
said, he believed already had been
voted down in committee, to debar the
government from such purchases.
"To buy the German ships lnterned
in these ports, and relieve their own
ers from the heavy daily expense In
caring for them and to hand over to
them thirty or forty millions Of money
belonging TO the American people,
said senator Lodge, would be a great
and direct assistance to one Of the
belligerents. II would be an unneu-
tral act aud very readily might be
construed as a hostile act and an ac-
tual breach Of neutrality"
Senator Lodge stated he had been
Informed that the administration had
determined to send the Dacia, a Ger
man-owncd ship purchased by Amer
leans and transferred TO American
registry abroad, 10 furnish a case.
Act Would BE Dangerous.
"lt seems TO me rather dangerous
business to mako test cases Of this
character in time Of war, when bel
ligerent governments are protestin"
against the action, and for the state
department to approve sending forth
a vessel which, as late as January l3,
our war risk bureau declined TO In
sure"
He said France and Russia had held
consistently that the transfer Of the
flag from a belligerent to neutral,
after hOstilities had begun. was not
to be recognized, and England the
same, although Sir Edward Grey last
summer made some notifications of
his opposition 10 the sale. II the ships
were not used I'm trade with Europe.
I'm view of the present empty cargo
space going TO South America, Senator
Lodge said. the United States could not
desire the ships for that traffic, but
only for the European trade. In car
rying on European trade. he urged.
the enemies OF Germany would still
regard the ships as Germans and lia
BILE 10 be sunk
Tho emergency In the shipping busi-
ness, which once had been advanced
as @ reason for buying the interned
ships Senator Lodge declared no
longer supported the purchase. be-
cause ships were going empty 10 South
America and discharRng facilities
were not To- be obtained for those ships
now entering the crowded open ports
of Europe.
Taking up a list OF the interned
boats, he declared that with two or
three exceptions these vessels were
unsuited for the purposes the admin
istratiOn had In mind. and their pur-
chase would be an intolcrablc waste
OF money.
why Is II so earnestly desired 20
buy them. for. with care and effort.
We could get cargo carriers from our
coastWise trade or from other neutral
nations?" Senator Lodge inquired.
Sees No Good Reasons.
we could pick up ships OF the /
proper type here and there, and yet II |
is evident that the plan OF the bill and |
the plan OF the administration Is TO |
buy the German ships I'm block. or a |
very large number of them. Why. |
confess I am entirely unable TO tell |
and / do not know there Is anything |
behind this bill except the desires OF |
the administration. am certain. |
however. there are no good reasons |
or arguments in its favor and / am 1
sure that TO allow II 10 become law |
without some provision protecting us /
against the purchase of ships Of bel |
ligerents and the consequent interna- |
tional complications. will make IL a |
very bad bill indeed for the American |
people setting aside for the moment |
all the grave objections OF govern |
ment ownership"