Evening star., 1915-12-11
Resolution Covers Sacrifice OF
Life and Interference With
United States Trade.
MUNITIONS PLANT PLOTS
ALSO WITHIN ITS SCOPE
introduced by Senator Hoke Smith,
With an Amendment by
Senator Lodge.

furtller acton on a SENATE
resolution demanding congress
sional investigation of British in
reference with American trade,
with an amendment to extend the
inquiry to cover bomb plots and
loss of American lives in subma-
rine attacks on vessels on the
high seas, rested today with the
foreign relations committee.
The resolution proposed yesterday by
Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia, who in
sharp speech denounced the British
orders in council. drew the amendment
from Senator Lodge. In offering his
amendment the Massachusetts senator
said:
II think it is of great importance that
we vindicate our rights as neutral in
trade. but I think it far more impor-
tant that we should extend protection
and security to American citizens"
First Debate on War.
Introduction of the resolution and its
amendment plunged the Senate into the
first debate of the session on the sub
ject of the war and it's relation to
American affairs.
"The body of an innocent child float
ing dead on the water, the victim OF
destruction of an unarmed vessel, is to
me more poignant and more tragic
spectacle than an unsold bale of cot
ton,' declared the Massachusetts sem
ator
Soao.. T Iaa~,, ,u.,aran+ ,ro,Sd a q
for investigation Of the law and the
facts in the submarine attacks on the
Lusitania, Falaha, Hesperian, Arabic
Gulfight and Ancona, and of the plots
and conspiracies against the neutrality
Of the United States, to which Presi-
dent Wilson referred in unmeasured
terms in his address to Congress Tues
day.
Put on Highest Ground.
"I wish to extend the scope of the
resolution by my amendment" said
Senator Lodge. because if we are to
take up this question of the violation
of our rights l want to put it not on
the lowest ground alone, but on the
highest ground as well.
Il think Americans should be pro-
tected in their lives and in their lib
erty everywhere. 1 do not think they
ought to be murdered in detail and OBJ
scurely in Mexico or openly or
wholesale on the high seas.
Although l am as anxious as any
one can be to care for our rights in
trade If they are violated. to me Amer
ican lives are more important than
tion is to go on. and especially if Con-
Sress Is to take action, l want it to
take in all the violations of our rights
that may have occurred.
First in Importance.
The most important is the violation
which has affected American lives or
the security of an American citizen
man, woman or child-and the next
most important are those pointed out
by the President of the United States
in his message the other day when he
referred to the destruction Of prop
erty accompanied by destruction OF
life in the United States, and stated
that conspiracies in alien interests are
going on within our own borders"
Senator Works of California asked
Senator Lodge if his amendment was
comprehensive enough to include in
vestiSation of parts played by citizens
of the United States in sending am
munition on ships which had been at
tackled or destroyed. He was assured
that it was meant to include inquiry
into all angles of the general subject
of belligerent interference with ships
Senator Hoke Smith. replying to
Senator Lodge. intimated that there
had been an effort made to bury all
objections to interference with Ameri-
can shipping by Sentimental protesta-
tions of horror at losses of life" and
that some of this effort. at least, had
been influenced by profits from the sale
of ammunition.
Not Sufferers in Trade.
Those who have considered it most
mercenary to criticise Great Britain
for interfering with neutral trade"
said the Georgia senator, '.have been
persons who, to say the least. have not
lost anything in their trade"
Senator Walsh Of Montana declared
that seizures of American copper had
ceased only because American citizens
had agreed to ship their copper under
rules laid down by the British admiral
ty. He submitted copy of an agree
ment entered into between the British
admiralty and an American shipper. 1t
was referred to the foreign relations
committee as an exhibit.
There is no great demand for copper
now" said Senator Walsh. land the
market is so high that there is no way
the producers in the United States
could increase the price of copper and
this part of the investigation. at least,
would be free from any suspicion of
having been inspired by mercenary
motives"