The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-11
BITTER FIGHT SURE
OVER FOREIGN ISSUE
Controversy in Senate Fore
Swallowed by Smith Attack
and Lodge Reply.

Stormy times ahead at the Capitol
with reference TO Americas foreign
relations were pIdfnly foreshadowed
by the developments in the Senate late
yesterday afternoon when Senator
Lodge introduced a resolution calling
for an investigation by the Foreign
Relations Committee into the sub
marine attacks which have cost Amer
lean lives ana property and into the
munitions and other plots which have
aroused the resentment OF large part
Of the country.
Cutlery against British interference
with cotton and other cargoes will not
be permitted to still the more en-.
phatic outcry against destruction Of
American life at sea, II Senator Lodge
has his way. IN this. he has powerful
backing.
Speaking after Senator Hoke Smith
had demanded an investigation Of
British trade interference. Senator
Lodge uttered these words:
THE body OF an innocent child
floating dead on the water, the vic
tim OF destruction Of an unarmed
vessel, IL to me q more poignant and
= lnOTS kuhH Ga VIA
sold bale OF cotton"
To Stir Up Controversy.
Senator Smith had offered q resolu-
tlon for an investigation by the For.
eign Relations Committee into British
interference with neutral trade. Sem
ator Lodge proposed to supplement
that with a resolution for an inveHtt-
cation into the Lusitanta case, the
Arabic case, the Ancona, and like
cases, and the conspiracies against
alluded Tuesday.
That the Lodge resolution will stir
up an animated controversy in COM
mittee and in the Senate Is plain. 1t
Is presented as an amendment to the
Smith resolution.
Life More Important.
SEM 'c- ToSoA sad:
I think Americans ShOuld - Pre-
tccied thC.. lHIs 49, e.. -. q. 30
erty everywhere. / do not think they
ought to be murdered in detail and OBJ
securely In Mexico. or openly or whole
sale on the high seas.
Although am as anxious AZ anyone
can be to care Cor our rights in trade,
II they are violated. to me American
lives are more important than American
dollars. II this investigation Is 20 go
on. and especially IL Congress IL TO take
action. I want It to take in all the vio-
lations OF our rights that may have oc-
CURED. The most important Is the VIC.
lation which has affected American
lives or the security OF an American
citizen-man. woman. or chiid-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
property. accompanied by destruction of
life in the United States and stated
that conBpiracles In alien interests are
going on within our own borders.
Something Higher Than Dollars.
II think II we are to investigate and
inquire with view to action. such
deeds as these should not be omitted.
am not willing to get into passion
over an infringement Of our trade and
then allow American citizens to lose
their lives and have It go by In frigid
silence. think the United States
world than mere trade and mere dollars.
] do not want to see our citizens
wronged in their properties. but think
we should also stand. and, above all.
for morality and humanity in the deal
inRs of nations with each other
Senator Hoke Smith in reply to Sena-
tor Lodge. intimRted there had been an
effort to bury all objections to inter
ference with American shipping by
sentimental protestations OF horror at
Losses of life." and that some OF this
effort. at least. had been influenced by
profits from sale OF ammunition.
"LOst Nothing In Trade"
Those who have considered It most
mercenary to criticise Great Britain for
interfering with neutral trade" said
the Georgia senator. "have been per-
sons who to say the least. have not
lost anything In their trade"
Senator Walsh charged that American
shippers OF copper had been harassed
by the British into signing an agree
ment to ship copper only where the
British admiralty "EraciousIy permit
ted"