The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-29
DISTRIBUTIONS
CITED TO HELP
THE SHIP BILL
Senator Walsh Declares rs
Provisions Square With
American Policy.
CHANCE OF SEIZURE
SHOULD NOT DETER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.--The RepublI-
cans have driven the Democrats into
defending on the floor Of the Senate the
ship purchase bill, and large part of
to-days session was taken up with A.
guments In behalf OF the Administrator
measure.
Senator Roots speech predicting TO-
ternational complications IL the informed
German and Austr an vessels are pur-
chased 10y the United states is CHIEFLY
responsible for the decision OF the
Democrats to DO some speechmaking on
their own account.
Senator wash Of Montana. who is
one Of the ablest lawyers on the Demo-
cratic side. was selected by the Admin
ustration forces 10 answer Senator
Roots legal arguments against the bill
Senator Walsh at the conclusion Of
his speech was oblied to acknowledge
shat It was an open question whether n
not Great Britain, France and Russia
would seize any OF the German and
Austrian informed ships which the
tinted states might purchase and A.
tempt to put in operation on the high
seas.
The likelihood OF such seizure
should not. however IN his opinion
md apparently this reflected the view
Of the Admlnistration-dcter the ,nited
States from making such purchases ana
submitting the issue to "A test II Great
Britain or her allies should insist upon
seizing the vessels and carrying them
into prize courts.
The Seniors Argument.
senator Walsh's argument was that the
United States itself had a traditional
policy and traditional right IN regard
to the question OF the transfer OF a bell
iigerents vessel after war had been de-
c.ared and that this Government should
not hesitate to assert this right and make
an issue OF II II necessary
The Senator had cons .derablc doubt
whether or not Great Britain, n she
we're really put to the test. would So
back on the principles which guided her
before the Declaration Of London was
agreed TO and which took into considera-
ton merely the question OF good faith I'm
the transfer of the vessels ownership
II tho worst came 10 the worst and
Great Britain did insist that the ques-
ton Of the motive OF the vendcr must be
considered in determining the validity OF
the transfer. the United states Senator
Walsh pointed out, could then demand
arbitration OF the question under the eX-
isting treaty with Great Britain.
What Senator Walsh failed to consider
in his plan OF procedure according to the
view OF the bills opponents, was the hit
ter feeling that would he aroused in this
country through the seizure Of vessels
flying tho American flag ana the dangers
which might be thrust upon th~ country
through an lnhamed public sentiment.
Senator Walsh contended that the right
% fcu:Ta!S - ru"chasc sh.Is c. hem!-s-
ons after the beginning of hostilties had
been stoutly maintained by Great Britain
as well az the United States for more
than one hundred years
France, he acknowledged had never
formally accepted this doctrine. but had
Rcquiesced in II to such an extent that in
his opinion. II was unbelievable that she
would attempt to disregard II and appeal
TO the judgment OF the nations OF the
earth.
"As TO Great Britain" said Senator
Walsh she stands committed to the view
Indicated SO firmly that no hOnorab BILE ave-
nue. of escape Is open, even II II could be
conceived that she might desire to see II
overturned"
Mr. Walsh refused 10 agree with Sena-
tor Root that Great Britain. in accedinG
10 the Declaration Of London. had re-
yersed her traditional policy and had sub
scrlbed to the doctrine OF considering, be-
sides good faith the question whether or
not the transfer was made TO avoid the
consequences OF war
The British position AZ present, Mr..
Walsh contendcd. is complicated and
doubtful but as Great Britain already has
disregarded the Declaration OF London as
regards contraband OF war he insisted
, that II was impossible 10 say that her
fixed policy would follow that declaration
in other respects He believed that In the
inal test the question of previous practice
would be the predominating factor in a
settlement.
ut IL idle" said Senator Walsh, 80
assert that the Declaration OF London ~
contemptuously treated by the Allies car
be appealed to BY them in justification of
any course that they may take I'm the
present war. or even that II can justly
have any persuasive force In the ultimate
determination Of our right 70 purchase
tho interned ships
, The question remains as Il presented
Itself when Marcy, Cass. Evarts and Fisi
boldly proclaimed our right to buy"
Calls French Practice Obsolete.
Senator Walsh contended that IN,
French practice OF holding that no trans
fer was valid after hostillties began wa
obsolete and discredited.
The Senator's remarks were followed
with great interest for they were accepted
as the Administrators own Views on tn
subject, which, up TO this time, had no
been disclosed in detail
Republican Senators will seize upoi
Senator Walsh's defence of the Admins
traton plan as supporting their most I'm
portant contentious. Senator Root ha.
, insisted that the attempt to buy German
vessels under the ship purchase bill vii
result In acquiring an International quar-
rel with every vessel and that, according
20 the Republican viewpoint IL just VIVA
the United States should avoid in IN
present crisis. Senator Walsh acknnwl
edges the likelihood Of complications, bu
Insists that this Government should stant
by It's belief
Senator Fletcher also spoke in supper
OF the bin and Senator sherman Of Iii
nois against 1t. The democrats agail
imposed n night session, which lasted until
after . o'clock