The Washington times., 1915-03-04
wilson AUTHORIZED
To USE ANY MEANS
FOR RU.S.NEUTRAl|TY
0ssolution Against Use Of Amer.
loan Ports by Warships
Rushed Through Congress.

President Wilson 10 given absolute
authority to prevent the use Of any port
Of this country a. a base for coalins
arming, or provisioning beliigerent war.
ships by a resolution rushed through
Congress early today.
The resolution 10 designed to give the
President broader powers to protect the
neutrality Of this Government. by max.
Ing the act which constitutes violat.
i0n ef the neutral obligations Of this
country . penal offense.
The resolution was rushed through
tAs Heuss. was later passed in amended
form bz the Senate and then was con.
aurfeA In hv the House at lin thia
morning.
Only the leaders had wind Of the
coming Of ths resolution ana when II
was first presented there arose ominoua
reports as to it, purpose and scope.
In the end. a. It was passed, It gives
ths President full authority to prevent
this country being used A. a base
when vessels can carry fuel. arms. am
munition or supplies to . warship OF
tender or supply ship Of a belligerent.
May Sue Any Means.
The President Is authorised to use all
means at his disposal. including the
armed forces. II need be. to compel obe-
dienes. and severe penalties are pro-
vided for violation.
hampercd by lack Of sufficient author
Ill
trality. That the measure Is primarily
intended to prevent the practice Of war
vessels Of beangerents of the American
coast getting supplies from this coun-
try through merchant vessels Is we'll
understood. 1t Is aimed chiefly at the
German war vessels, though broad
enough to apply to any of the bel
liEerents.
At first It was the opinion Of various
members Of the House and Senate that
the resolution was broad enough to give
the President power to declare An en-
After the resointion had been rushed
through the House. 1t was taken up BY
members of the Senate Foreign Rela.
tions Committee. and differences Of
opinion arose ssss,ors to stn. Its and
Swanson. Root. and Lodge were sum-
moned to the White House. and the
resolution was modified in phraseology.
No Debate Afterward.
Robert Lansing. counselor of the State
Department, was present. After this
conference. the resolution was adopted
In the Senate without debate, and then
was sent back to the House and con-
CURED in.
It IL known that the Administration
has lately given serious thought to the
question Of clothing the President with
authority for an embargo on war mu-
nttfOns and arms. and this led to the
more careful scrutiny Of the resolution.
Following 10 the text Of the resolu.
ton:
Resolved by tho Senate and the
House Of Representatives Of the Uninted
States of America In Congress as.
scmbled:
THAT from and after the passage OF
this resolution and during the existence
Of . war to which the United States
10 not a party. and in order to prevent
the neutrality of the United States from
being violated by the use Of its terri.
tory. its ports. or its territorial waters
as the base Of operations for the armed
forces Of belligerent country con.
trasy to the obligations imposed by the
law OF nations. the treaties to which the
United States u a party. or contrar!
t. the statutes Of the United States
the President be and he Is hereby au'
thorizcd and empowered to direct the
collectors of customs under the juris.
diction Of the United States to with.
hold clearance Of any vessel, American
or foreign. which he has reasonable