Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-06

NOT ON PARTY LINES
Mr.. Lodge Declares Embargo on
Munitions Would be Grossly Un,
neutral on Part Of United States.

Washington, Jan. 6-Bonds OF re.
straint against public discussion OF
International relations of the United
States incident to the European war
were broken in the Senate yesterday
and for more than an hour the session
was enlivened by debate over the
Governments neutrality policy, ex-
norts of war munitions and travel oy
American citizens on beligerent-o"n-
cd ships. ,
There was no division Of the deoat-
ers along party lines. Senator Jones'
Of Washington, Republican, denounc-
ed as "unpatriotic" American citizens
who imperiled the nation in taxing
massage on belligerent vessels. Sena-
tor Works, of California, Republican
,ssortcd that the Government OF the
IIn;ted States was "hypocritically"
claiming to be neutral when it was IN
fact participating in the war through
the sales of munitions.
Senator Lodge, ranking kepuoi-
can member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, declared that to place an
o;;ohoreo on arms now would be worth
more to Germany that million men;
that it would be grossly unneutral
net" and would, in fact, make the
United States the ally of Germany
Senators O'Gorman, Of New YORK
and Hitchcock, of Nebraska, Doth
Democrats, urged the advisability OIL
an embargo on munitions. Senator
O,Gorman also informed the Senate
that American Consul r. n. McNeely'
who lost his life on the British inner
Persia, had disregarded the advice OF
American Consul General Skinner at
London that he make the journey TO
Alden on Dutch vessel.
The discussion was precipltatea
when Senator Jones )ead a news
paper editorial urging American clti-
zens to keep off belligerent ships and
advising the President to proceca
slowly in the present crisis, needing
the interest of 99,o00,0O0 Americans
rather than that of thousand reck-
Tess inconsiderate and urpatriotlc
citizens who insist on travelling On
belligerent ships"
Senator Nelson, Of Minnesota, kc-
publican, aroused Senator OGorman
by asking whether Senator Jones re-
..arded Consul McNeely unpatrictle
because he sailed for bis post on the
Isrsia., After tHe; New York sena-
tar had. explainedsthat MeNeely had
dsslined to heed CppSa / General Skin
,;sr's advice to sailI on a Dutch ship
Senator Works blazed the way to
General debate on the position of the
United States in the war by declaring
the American Government was not
neutral.
Asserting at the outset that the
Government shared responsibility tol
deaths of Americans on the Lusitanla
the California Senator said: Inc
Government knew that the Lusitama
WAS loaded to the guards with am
mnnition and explosives. Passen'
gers were permitted, in spite OF TINS
to travel on the vessel. The Gov
ernment itself, in full knowledge tha'
the ship carried munitions of War' i
morally responsible for the deaths OF
our citizens"
When Senator Works declared the
United States actually was participant
ing in the war by the sale OF NUM-
tions. Senator Reed. Democrat, inter
rupted to ask:
"Does the Senator not know thai
the first loan placed in this count!
after the war began was a loan o
25,OOO,O0O to Germany and that th'
loan was made without protest from
hin, or any other citizen? Does thu
Senator not know that Germany pro
cured arms in this country as lonl
as it was possible for her to se
them?"
"That may all be true," Senate
Works replied, ''but that does not a
ter the situation"
If it be true" continued Senate