Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-04
Cites Action of Sweden.

Senator Hitchcock of Nebras ka, who
believes that this country should warn
her citizens off armed merehantme en-
of the belligerent powers. pointed out
that Sweden had taken such action only
recently.
To this Senator Lodge replied that
while he knew that to be a fact, he
was not sure that 1t was a sufficient
precedent for the United States to take
the same course.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota.
author of the resolution requesting
American citizens to remain off armed
merchantmen of the belligerent powers
pending the settlement of the contro-
Nersy on between the United
States government and Germany over
the question of the right of neutrals
TO travel on such vessels. took the
floor. His resolution. offered as a sub
stitute for the Gore resolution warn
Ing Americans off these ships, was
tabled along with the amended Gore
resolution yesterday by the Senate
He introduced IL later, however and
declared today that he regretted a re-
cess had been taken which prevented
his speaking directly to his resolution,
which would have come up for consid-
Grafton today if an adjournment had
been taken.
Thinks Majority for Warning.
senator Mct uri her Sald that alter
listening to the speeches in the Senate
Yesterday he felt sure that q majority
of the senators. if expressing their own
convictions, would favor warning
American citizens not to travel on bel
ngerent-owned armed mercha ntmen.
The President has asked for a vote
on this precise question. said Senator
McCumber. Sooner or later we will
have vote on il.
He said that if the action of the Sen
ate in voting to table the amended
Gore resolution Yesterday. which de-
clared an attack by German sub
marine ON an armed merchantmen and
loss of American lives thereby would
constitute cause for war, were liter
ally interpreted. the action of the Sem
ate would be taken TO mean that over
whelming sentiment of the Senate was
that such an attack would not be A
cause for war
But | will be charita BILE" said Sena-
tor McCumber. and interpret the ac-
tlon OF the Senate yesterday to mean
that IL desired to push the whole mat
ter aside and leave it to the President
Then the desire expressed by the Pres
ident for vote on the precise question
TO sweep all doubts away as to where
Congress stands on the question of
warning Americans off these ships. has
not been met at all.
Can any one say what the sentiment
OF the Senate is today in regard to
warning Americans off armed mercha MT
vessels of the belleerent powers?"
Senator McCumber then entered upon
an argument to prove that this govern
ment would be entirely justified in
warning Americans off armed mer-
chantmen.
Quote Story of 'Recklessness."
Senator Clapp of Minnesota and Sem
,f
Senate extracts from stories printed in
the morning papers to the effect that
an American, Charles Bellows, of 90
Pierpont street. Brooklyn. had stated
before sailing from New York yester-
day that he had run many blockades
and enjoyed the thrill that came with
II. According to the story, Mr. Bellows
sailed on board the White Star liner
Canopic for the Azores. Gibraltar and
the Mediterranean. accompanied by his
wife Before the vessel sailed Cant
X. w James announced that il would
take on armament at Gibraltar
MI Bellows is an importer. according
10 the story. and with his wife has made
the trip through the danger zone three
times. Reading from the newspaper
Senator Jones said: When asked if he
did not fear to sail in view of the
captain announcement he said. BY no
means; ! have run blockades before this
and l really enjoy the thrills that come
with IL
This is concrete example of the
disposition of those people who pro-
posed to travel on these armed mer
chant vessels, said Senator Jones'
The American people may not I'M
derstand the fine distinction of inter-
national law. but they will understand
the expression of such a desire on the
part OF these travellers They will
never mold that the national honor is in
vowed IN an erort to permit these
travellers 10 have these thrills II ia
possible that this vessel may be blown
up and this man killed Would we
De fish' TO bring this country into con-
hIci be"a use of II" The American MOO
pie never Will stand behind such a
"a