South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-02
DEMAND MAY Be
MADE ON BRITISH
congress Expected to Take
Up the Seizure of Two
American Ships.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2.-The ac-
ton OF Great Britain in requisition-
ing the American steamships Cen
esee and Hooking. owned by the
American transatlantic Steamship
Co. has developed the most acute
issue between the two governments
since the beginning Of the war.
At the state department IL -Tas
described Wednesday as 'unexam-
pied as an arbitrary act and without
precedent as violation Of interna-
tional law"
The entire matter viii be called
70 the attention OF congress. II is
known that on Monday the opening
day. a resolution will be introduced
in the senate directing the foreign
relations committee 20 investigate
the blockade OF neutral ports by
Great Britain and report what legis-
lation is needed 20 protect Amer
lean vessels. The resolution will lie
on the table for two or three days
for discussion. In this way the
whole question Of British treatment
OF American commerce viii be
Georgia mas already prepared
lengthy speech on the subject
May Make Demand.
In the meantime the state depart
ment has protested to Great Britain.
II she declines TO heed the protest.
the department VIII demand per-
emptoTily that the vessels be re-
leased and that the act b. dis
avOwed. State department officials
said today that If Great Britain
should refuse. redress must be
sought elsewhere than in the depart
ment This was interpreted TO mean
that the administration would lay
the whole matter before congress
and ask il 10 decide what 10 do.
There is no precedent or authority
in International law to justify the re-
questioning Of a vessel before its
case has been adjudicated in the
prize court according TO Cone John
son. solicitor for the state depart
ment.
Ships Are Unsafe
NO neutral ship would be safe
from seizure on the high seas if such
lenged in a vigorous manner" said
Mr.. Johnson Wednesday. The re-
QUESTIONING OF the two vessels is ut
terly contrary TO our conception Of
international law
Sen. O'GOrman Of New York said
that the action OF Great Britain pre-
scented "a very grave situation"
This action by Great Britain is
the most monstrous thing imag-
Unable" said Sen. Hoke Smith. 1T
is only another evidence of the pur-
pose of the government to Cypress
American commerce and TO empha-
sizes the vital fact that we must find
some remedy 70 prevent a continu-
ance Of this sort of thing"
Clark is Neutral.
Speaker Clark said:
The seizure of the Hooking and
the Genesee is another unfortunate
incident but IL is not a matter which
calls for legislative action. These
occurrences must be taken care of
by the state department and the
white house. Congress can do moth
ing except to profit by the expert
ences OF the executive branch in
framing laws for the future"
Republican Leader Mann said:
Il believe that the commercial SIT
uation is the most important ques-
ton which now cOnfronts the nation
Our part now is to make American
trade supreme while the rest OF the
world is fighting for the worlds
commerce. All our energies should
be bent toward fostering and pro-
tecting American commerce and |
hope the executive branch Of the
government viii see that this is done.
This Is the duty with which the state
department is charged and it should
see that the duty is performed. /
think that no legislative action is
necessary at this time. We should
present a solid. unbroken front in our
foreign relations and the rest OF the
world should understand that the
government has the support Of all its
citizens behind IT."
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