The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-04

Nnlte House. His absence. however,
was in keeping with early developments.
because the request from the state De-
partment for the legislation was sent
to tho White House by Counsellor Lam
sing.
The haste with which 1t was sent
to Congress was said to he due to the
fact that a Collector at one of the ports
had attempted to stop a vessel loaded
with coal which he suspected OF being
destined to aid "A belligercnt's wnr ves-
sells. The owner. according to the re-
port. threatened suit and the Collector
found that his authority under the law
was somewhat questionable.
The Government thus far has been
hampered in attempting TO proven, VIC.
lations Of neutrality because l. has
found Itself unable to infict adequate
penalties. 1t has attempted to reach
some cases in n cumbersome. roundabout
way. as in the proceedings recently
held before the New York city Grand
Jury.
The purpose OF the resolution. stripped
or its legal verbiage. vas explained to-
night by Representative Temple OF
Pennsylvania, who IL recognized a. an
expert on int irrational law.
THE resolution IL intended to cover
this situation The warship of u bel
ligerent is not permitted to buy supplies
in the ports OF a neutral nation except
10 u l1Hlleu extent. lntN SpnnetlmeH
employ merchant ships to make pur.
chases. which are forbidden to war yes
sells. and to deliver them outside OF the
three mile limit. This resolution pro-
vides that when an American merchant
ship Is thus acting as a supply ship
70 the naval vessels of a beliigercnt
the port collector shall refuse clearance
and a vessel sailing without clearance
shall be punished by heavy penalties
In support OF the resolution Counsel
Tor Lansing of the State Department
sent TO Leader Underwood in the House
q letter urging the resolution. II read ::
state Department. March 3. 1915.
MY DEAR UNDERWOOD: The Secre-
tary has had 10 leave the Department
this afternoon TO attend n meeting OF a
committee OF the Pan-American Union
and he has requested me to address the
House on a subject OF vital Importance
10 the Government in the present war
situation. I refer TO the necessity for
additional legislation to enable the Gov
ernmen to enforce its neutral duties
during the present war.
1T Is known in some quarters that
the Government has been hindered by
lack Of sufficient legislation TO prevent
vessels from leaving American ports
with coal and supplies for warships al
sea in contravention OF the neutrality az
the United States. The United States IL
bound by treaties in force to prevent the
use OF its ports as bases OF naval opera
ripns. but there is no legislation by Con-
gress to enable the Government to carry
out these obligations.
"The Department of Justice. therefore.
has had drafted a proposed resolution
which. in its opinion. will give the
President such Lower as will be neces-
sary to carry out the neutral obligations
OF the Government in these respects.
The Department of state heartily
supports the proposed resolution, and
desire to emphasize the great urgency
need OF immediate passage Of a
resolution in some such form as the
one enclosed, in order hat. in the
present critical situation brought abou,
by the stupendous conflict in Europe. the
Government may not be bound inter.
nationally and yet have its hand tied $,
as to be unable to act in the discharge
OF its international duties. Very sin.
cerely yours, ROBERT LANSING.
Enclosing Hague Convention No. IS
1907.
Treaty Of Washington, 1871"
When Mr.. Underwood presented the
resolution in the House. ne announced
caadidly that he had had no opportunit,
TO investigate the question and that i
had come to him only within a snor
time. He declared it was the duty o
Congress to sustain the Chief ENecutiv,
when he asked for a grant Of power O
this character.
Representative Mann commended ,ha'
the resolution was only to give a metho,
OF enforcing what is now the law un
der the statutes and treaties.
1T is probably unfortunate sale
Mr.. Mann. that 1t comes to the HOUSE
without any opportunity OF having il
printed in advance. | suppose ii hal
just occurred to the Secretary OF stat
as he was leaving his office TO go to 1
committee room his afternoon tha'
~ 80 tlG. RAaAl,ttaa. ,.rAa "a
vital Importance to the nation. an,
hence he directed one of the clerks o,
employees in his office to send n com
mun!cation 10 Congress during the las
day of it's session.
II am not disposed to criticise hin
for that, although il seems TO me 4
would have been n little more dienified
IL the matter is of vital Importance. t.
have either the President himself q
the Secretary of State send a communl
cation to the Speaker of the House
The real story Of the inception OF II,
neutrality resolution which was origl
Tally presented in the Senate came gu
late tonight through the gossip o
Senators and others who were identihc'
with the legislation
The President knew nothing OF |
originally. The resolution was draw
by Acting Secretary Lansing, Counsel
lor OF the state Department. in the ab
Sence OF secretary Bryan. 80 ln as !
known the only person with whom Nj
Lansing took counsel was the Attorney
General. After the resolution reachr
the Capitol and Senators and Repre-
sentatiNes had read II they becam'
alarmed over the apparent signiicanc
= Il
The newspapers began TO inquire wha
il meant. whether ii was suggestive o
war, Finally it was decided to call u
the President and learn inst what VA
In his mind. The President seemed 81,
prised and asked for the reading OF tn
resolution over the telephone.
1t was said that he remarked tina
IL was less warlike than he had bee
led to believe, but he expressed a de
sire to take IL up with members of tn
Foreign Relations Committee. so
meeting was hastily called and a sub
committee appointed to confer with tn
prasident Ont Of this cnnference ca N