Evening star., 1915-06-10
PLACES j. S. PEACE
ABOVE PARTY ISSUE
Senator Hoke Smith Sees No
Reason Why Nation Should
Be Involved in War.
WOULD KEEP CITIZENS OFF
SHIPS MOVING WAR GOODS
Urges Protest Against Allies Inter-
ference With Commerce-Favors
Enlarging the Navy.

| issue or difference of party leaders,
| Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia in a
statement today said:
| Il do not regard this as time to
| be considering questions of party sue
| cess next year. The preservation of
peace and the protection of the rights
of American citizens at this time is
| far more important than the success
| OF any party next year
Il still see no reason why the United
States should be involved in war with
Germany or her enemies. There is no
reason even for ceasing our diploma tic
| relations with Germany.
THE public mind was justly filled
! with horror at the sinking of the Lusi
tania. Still. it must be remembered
that this was not an attack upon an
American vessel, and not an intent to
injure American citizens
We must keep our citizens off ves
sells loaded with munitions of war, and
we should require vessels loaded with
munitions of war to make the character
of their cargoes fully known and to
separate them into a. class distinct
from other vessels. Additional pains
can be taken by American-owned ves-
sells to show their ownership and
Germany should exercise still greater
owned vessels.
Need Not O. Z. Germany's Methods.
We need not in any way approve
Germany's mode of warfare. Except SO
far as it affects American citizens. we
may well leave 1t to the action of Great
Britain and her allies
1T is most unfortunate that the sink
ing of the Lusitania has so greatly
withdrawn public attention from the
continued and intentional disregard OF
the rights of American citizens by
Great Britain and her allies"
Senator Hoke Smith declared himself
strongly in favor of the sending of
note of protest against interference
Britain and her allies He declared his
belief that such a note would soon be
sent.
Beginning soon after the war COM
allies added to contraband and addi-
tional contraband lists and destroyed
much of the commerce OF the United
States. March / they gave the notice
ments viii hold themselves free TO de-
tain and take into port ships carrying
goods of presumed enemy destination,
ownership or origin
''On March IL they published their
blockade notice, by which they under
took. in utter definace of the rights of
this country, to seize our vessels and
stop the business of American citizens
with the neutral ports of northern Eu-
rope. No principle is more fully estab-
lished than that a belIigerent cannot
legally blockade neutral port.
q. s. Protested Order March 80.
"Our government protested this order
by a letter written March 80. This let
ter from the State Department to Great
Britain declared that innocent ship
ments may be freely transported and
from the United States through neutral
countries to belligerent territory with
out being subject to contraband traffic
or British blockade. much less to de-
tention and confiscation.' This same let
ter further stated that such interfer-
ence by Great Britain Is a distinct in
vasion Of the sovereign rights OF the
nation whose trade and commerce II
interfered with
"Since March 30 Great Britain has
seized vessel after vessel loaded with
zens Of the United States and carried
these vessels into her ports. Great
Britain has put part of the cargoes in
her prize court. Part of the cargoes
Great Britain has sold in her own mar
kets. Great Britain has stopped the
expectation of products from neutral
ports to the United States because the
cargoes may have been of Austrian or
German manufacture.
The legitimate markets of northern
Europe have been cut of from Ameri-
can citizens. The legitimate use by
American citizens of the products Of
northern Europe has been cut on There
has been no answer from Great Britain
cept the continued seizure of our ves-
sells and the cargoes of our citizens.
Our government has done nothing moro
to put a stop to the invasion Of our
sovereign rights.
Favors Enlarging the Navy.
The United States should remain at
peace with all the world. and should be
strong enough to maintain our rights as
a neutral We should prepare to help
maintain the rights of other neutrals,
not by war. but with a strength and
power which will preserve for this
country and other neutrals their rights
without war
This can only be done by enlareine
the navy and making the power of the
United States upon the ocean as great
as that of any nation In the world.
am most cordially In favor of pro-
ceeding with the development of the
navy upon those lines.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona said:
THE resignation is simply the result
| of an honest. frank, yet f1rm difference
OF opinion petWeen tne countryS two
greatest statesmen. The letter of rea-
ignation and the note of acceptance are
luminous and speak for themselves
| They should be read by every Ameri-
! can citizen"
Says Both Are Right.
| Representative William H. Murray of
Oklahoma. democrat. when asked his
opinion of tho resignation of Mr. Bryan
and the effect 1t would have. said:
| Replying to your question as to the
| propriety of Mr.. Bryan's retirement. I
have to say that l think both were
right. By which ! mean Bryan WAS
| right in res1gning to save his own con-
| science, but I think the President WAS
right in his policy, and since the re-
| sponsibility Is upon him he could not
! do otherwise than to exercise the obu