The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-19
Says Acquiescence in Sink.
jny Armed Vessels Makes
Us. German Ally.
WILSON'S FOREIGN
POLICY Is ASSA1LED
Senator Sterling Accuses
President Of Hesitating
While World Wonders.

wAsurSGroS, Feb. 1s.--B,tter crtti-
e,m of the foreign policy Of the Wilson
Administration. with special reference
10 i,s attitude In the pending negotiations
with ,;eruany. was voiced In the Senate
to-day bv Lodge Of Massachusetts and
sterling of south Dakota in vigorous
.reches IN support of the Sterling rcso-
luton. which opposes acQuiescence by
the United States in the notifications OF
N. Central Powers OF their right to
hr. on armed merchantmen.
senator Stone of Missouri. chairman
Of the Foreign Relations Committee. As
.,okesman Of the AdnrtI, stration. fol-
lowed Messre. Lodge and Sterling. de-
,,sring that the question Of arming mer-
clsr,men Was AT least debatable. lie
announced that early next week he would
make a more extended reply to Sena-
,ors Lodge and Sterling. and respond
% the attack made on the foreign policy
Of the Administration by ex-senator
Roo.
Powers that they would exercise the
right of .iring on armed merchantmen.
senator Sterling charged the Admins
tration with delaying and hesitating,
while the world wAs wondering what
course would be pursued
FaciaE Grave Crisis.
lie declared that acauiescence in the
linz
more serious than any that have yet
disturbed w. grave rs some OF them
nave besi." lie insisted that Il was
NO remote inference that the present at.
ti;ude Of the German Admiralty WAS
encouraged, II not invited by the memo.
randa " the state Department to the
Allied nations"
Senator Sterling made an extended
argument in support of the right Of
poses.
The vice In the suggestion OF the
State Department" remarked Senator
Sterling. Lies in this. that because the
deadly submarine is not strong on de-
fence you must therefore make the mer-
chant ships absolutely helpless against
the submarine.
Senator Lodge said that abandonment
b. the United states at this time of the
principle that merchantmen may arm for
defence would be an unneutral act and
step toward war. He insisted that
acceptance by this country Of Germany's
proposals would make the United States
ire ally Of the belliKerent whose mer-
chant marine had been swept from the
Sea.
As late AS the Presidents note Of
May IL, 1915. signed by Mr.. Bryan"
Senator Lodge said. this Government
sVaI sl.t.t -aat-
within their undisputed rights In taking
their ships and in travelling wherever
t'r legitimate business calls them
upon the high seas.
should Keep Up Practice.
such has been the practice Of all
nations In regard to the armed mer-
chan'men. II seems incredible that
TINS post should be in any way al
tered now. or that our Government
should he ready to surrender the guess
TONED rights Of Americans to travel or
slp goods on a belligerent merchant
man subject to all the rules which have
o.en established by the courts and by
al International authorities for at least
twenty centuries"
senator Lodges remarks had been
carefully prepared and we're spoken with
great deliberation. They were closely
the chamber
senator Lodge in opening expressed
surprise AT the report that the State
department. was about to reverse the
raditional policy Of the United States
W regard 10 armed merchantmen. lie
showed that the practice Of arning mer-
chant vessels dated back 20 the Middle
Ases, when vessels plying upon the
mediterranean were armed II was made
compulsory in England in the seven
tNeHth century.
Under the conditions there grew up
matter Of course body OF law
uennlng the character Of the armed
merchan'man,' said Mr.. Lodge. "The
Practice Of arminE merchantmen went
On win fluctuations and was 30 gem
erally recognized that in 1915 Chief
justice Marshall said In a case to which
snail refer later and more fully: In
point OF fact, II is believed that bel
teren' merchant vessel rarely sails
History Of the Practice.
Continuing his review Of the history
OF me practice Senator Lodge said:
i have briefly described the condi-
u!hs because in the centuries during
which they existed they gave rise to .
ooay of International laws. In which the
rul's affecting the status Of the armed
merchan,men were probably better de-
hhod by the general usage and the
assent OF nations than In almost any
dence.
1T vas established by practice and by
UNIVERSAL assent that q merchantmen
armed only for defence did not thereby
lose her character. the character a. Z
merchantman, and that when war OK.
sted The armed merchantmen. both oi