El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-06

ing in the war by the sale Of munitions
senator Reed, Democrat, interrupted
to ask:
Reed Defends Neutrality.
Does the senator not know that
the first loan placed in this country
after the war began was 4 loan of
S25, 1000, 900 to Germany, and that the
loan was made without protest from
him or any other citlzenE Does the SEN
ator not know that Germany procured
arms in this country as long as it was
possible for her to get them2"
THAT may all be true" senator
Works replied. but that does not al
ter the situation"
If it be true" continued senator
Reed that the markets of this cOun-
try are free and open to Germany as
well as to all other countries and that
this government does not distinguish
between any belligerent nations, then
how can the senator say that this
government has taken an unneutral
position
Would Make Embargo Complete
at is impossible to get arms to Ger
many and 1 say it is morally wrong
for this government to permit shipment
Of arms to any Of the belligerents,"
cenatOr Works insisted. He added that
his principal objection was based on
conviction that the United States
was aiding in prolOnging the wsr and
the killing Of men and that he would
not only put an embargo cl munitions
but also on shipments Of food and
clothing to the armies Of Europe.
Our markets are open 10 all the
world to buy" said senator Lodge. We
have taken no action to prevent any
belligerent or any one else from buy
ing in our markets, and We are at
peace with the world a condition has
been created by this war and by the
war alone which prevents one or more
hsa1T nj
ket. If we undertake 10 reverse a con-
ditiOn created by the war. We at once
enter into the war and endeaTOr to
restore a condition existing before the
war and that is an act Of Immortality"
Evidently, in time Of war such as IS
now disturbing the peace Of the world"
senator O'Gorman rejOined. almost any
act Of a neutral power would be re-
garded by some as an act OF Partially;
but, in my judgment, this government
if il deemed it best for the American
nation and the hest security of peace
with all the nations. could place an
embargo against the shipment Of mu-
nitiOns to any belligerent without eX-
posing itself 20 the imputation OF an
unneutral act"
Cites Other Neutral Nations.
Senator Hitchcock asked senator
Lodge whether II was unneutral for
Norway. Denmark. Sweden and Holland
to place an embargo on munitions after
the war began Senator Lodge said
he thought not. because that act did
not change a condition
Placing of the embargo by these
nations" senator Hitchcock replied.
deprived Germany Of a safe method
Of procuring munitions and other con-
traband from those countries. and yet
no one was heard to claim that those
countries were guilty Of Immortality.
Everyone knows that Germany was de-
prived Of an enormous advantage when
Great Britain forced those neutral
countries Of Europe TO put on that
embargo or lose the food which they
needed and which Great Britain could
keep from them"
Does the senator consider" asked
senator Works. that the condition he
thinks We ought not to change was
brought about by action OF the gov
eminent to which We are now supply
ing arms2"
"Of course it was not" replied SEN
ator Lodge.
1T was brought about by the course
of the war. in which one side got con-
troll of the sea We should be doing
Just as unneutral a thing as If it were
in our power to shut down the arms
factories Of Liege, Of which Germany
got possession at the beginning Of the
war and which she is now running in
her own interests"
Stone Checks Debate.
suppose, senator OGOrman inter-
jected. -'the belligerent that is the chief
beneficiary of our present policy, with
respect to expectation Of munitions,
were to disregard our rights as a neu-
trail nation. does the senator think we
would be justified in placing an en-
barge on munitions as a retaliatoryy
measureT"
We should have a right to impose
a retaliatory embargo. but I think
it would be an unneutral act" the Mas
sachusetts senator replied
At this point, senator Stone, chair
man of the foreign relations commit
tee. pointed out that the debate was
out OF order. and ended it by moving
an executive session
4 have not objected up to this time"
he explained. I thought il was very
well to let il run a little while, by way
of feeling out and getting an index TO
the senate"
Sir Philip SassCon. now with the
British army at the front. is one OF