Evening star., 1915-03-04

carry out the purposes of the resolu-
ton, which are to maintain the obllga-
tions of the United States as a neutral
nation The resolution was approved
at the White House before its final
adoption.
1t was first introduced IN the House
adopted and sent to the Senate. where
it was taken up on the floor in slightly
changed form after a w hlte House con
ference. The Senate adopted the reso-
luton without debate, and few min
utes later Representative Underwood
called the resolution up again. and the
House agreed to the Senate amend
ments and the resolution was adopted.
Text of Resolution.
The text of. the resolution follows:
That from and after the passage
of this resolution, and during the
existence of war to which the United
States is not a party, and in order TO
prevent the neutrality Of the United
States from being violated by the use
of its territory, it's ports or its terri
torial waters as the base of operations
for the armed forces of belligerent,
contrary to the obligations imposed by
the law of nations. the treaties TO
which the United States is a party. Or
States, the President be, and he Is
hereby, authorized and empowered to
direct the collectors of customs under
the jurisdiction of the United States
to withhold clearance from any vessel,
American or foreign. which he has
reasonable cause to believe to be
about to carry fuel. arms, ammunition,
men or supplies to any warsnip, or
tender, or supply ship OF a bellgerent
nation, in violation OF the obligations
of the United States as neutral
nation.
'In case any such vessel of Ameri-
can registry or license shall depart or
attempt to depart from the jurisdiction
of the United States without clearance
for any of the purposes above set
forth, the owner or master or person
or persons having charge or command
OF such vessel shall Seyerally be liable
to a fine Of not less than $1,000 nor
more than $4,000, or to Imprisonment
not to exceed two years, or both, and,
in addition, such vessel shall De for
feited to the United States.
That the President OF the United
States be, ard he is hereby, author
lied and empowered to employ such
part OF the land or naval forces of the
United States as shall be necessary to
carry out the purposes of this resoiu-
ton.
THAT the provisions Of this resolu-
ton shall be deemed to extend to all
lands and water, continental or in
sular. within the jurisdiction of the
United States"
Acts on Stones Motion.
The Senate adopted the resolution on
motion of Senator Stone of the foreign
relations committee.
The original neutra!t resolution
was presented in the House before &
O'Clock by Representative Underwood
who explained il had been sent to him
from the Secretary of State. 1t was
passed by the House with little discus
sion, went to the Senate, where the
resolution was introduced again. but
in different form. When Representa-
tive Underwood introduced the resolu-
tion and asked for its immediate adop-
tion he said:
"On the 18th day of October, 1907, the
government of the United States en-
tered into a convention with the other
great powers of the world, and in that
convention the following propositions
were agreed to: Article V of the CON
vention provides: 'Belligerents are for
hidden to use neutral ports and waters
as a base of naval operations against
their adversaries, and particularly to
erect wireless telegraph stations or
any apparatus for the purpose of COM
muniCatin5 with the belllSerent forces
on land or sea.
Provision of Article Eight.
article of the same convention
provides: a neutral government is
bound to employ the means at its dis
posal to prevent fitting out or arminS
of any vessel within its jurisdiction
W which it has reason to believe is in
tended to cruise or engage in hostile
AGAINST a with winch
that government is at peace. 1t Is also
bound to display the same vigilence to
prevent the departure from its juris-
diction of any vessel intended to cruise
or engage in hostile operations which
had been adopted entirely or partly
within said juridiction for use in wa.
Article IS of the same convention pro-
vides: "A neutral power is bound to eX-
ercise such surveillance as the means
at it's disposal allow to prevent any
violation of the provisions of the above
article occurring in its ports, road
steads, or in its waters
Purpose of Resolution.
The purpose Of the joint resolution
is to enable the President to exercise
the powers that will enforce the pro-
visions of this convention that was
held at The Hague in order to protect
our neutrality. l say to the House can
didly that l have had no chance to
investigate this question, that it mas
come to me within the last hour but
l feel that there is no greater obliea-
tions resting on this Congress as the
of the American peo-
pie than to do all in their power to
protect the neutrality of the United
States. The President must exercise
that power. In a condition of that
kind there can be but one man and hut
one mind, and it IS our duty to sustain
him as the chief executive of the ma
tiou He has asked us 10 confer this
rowec on him as the chief executive
Of the nation. [ believe il ts our plain
duty to pass this resolution iume-
diately.
Il want to ASK said Representative
Hobson, IF the gentleman thinks the
resolution would reach a case where
great guns. say fifteen-inch guns, We're
being shipped by. say, the Bethlehem
iron works, to be used to fit out the
ships of a belligerent?'
II will say that l did not prepare the
resolution" answered Mr.. Underwood: {:
that it was prepared by the Depart
partment of State. l have had no
chance to give 1t careful study, and l
do not think it would be wise for me,
as the proponent of the resolution, to
voice my opinion as to how far-reach-
ing the resolution is
Hobson's Interpretation.
MY Interpretation Of the resolution. -
continued Representative Hobson. lin
its effect is that it would shut off any