Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-06
SENATE DEBATES
The NEUTRALITY
POLICY OF LAND
0'Gorman Says American Consul
Losing Life in Persia Disaster
Advised to Avoid Bellig-
erent Ship.
LODGE OPPOSES ARMS EMBARGO
Works Says Government Morally
Responsible for Citizens
Sent to Death.
REED BACKS ADMINISTRATION


WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.---Bonds of
restraint against public discussion
OF international relations Of the
United States in regard to the Eu-
ropean war we're broken in the SEN
ate today and for more than an hour
the session was enlivened by debate
over the governments neutrality
policy, exports of war munitions and
travel by American citizens on bel
ligerent-owned ships.
There was no division OF the debaters
along party lines. Senator Jones OF
Washington. republican, denounced as
''unpartiotic'' American citizens who i'm
perilled the nation by taking passage on
belligerent vessels. Senator Works OF
California, republican. asserted that the
government OF the United States was
"hypocritically claiming to be neutral
when It was In fact participating in the
war through the sale of munitions"
Lodge Speaks Against Embargo.
Senator Lodge. ranking republican
member of the foreign relations commit
tee, declared that to place an embargo
on arms nov would be worth more to
Germany than a million men; that II
would be grossly unneutral act" and
would, in fact, make the United States
the ally of Germany Senators O'Gorman
OF New York and Hitchcock OF Nebraska.
both democrats, urged the advisability of
an embargo on munitions.
Senator oGorman also informed the
senate that American Consud r. n. Nc
Nicely who lost his life on the British
liner 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 prccipitatcd when
Senator Jones read newspaper editorial
urging American citizens to keep off bel
iscrcnt ships and advising the president
to proceed slowly in the present crisis.
hocding the interest OF 100000 rather
than that of thousand reckless in
considerate and unpatriotic citizens who
ihsis'ed- on travelling ON belllgerent shipe.
DisreRnrded SIinDer's Advice.
Senator Nelson OF Minnesota, repub-
lican, aroused Senator o'Gorman by ask
ing whether Senator Jones regarded Con
sui McNeely unpatriotic because he sailed
for his post on the Persia. After the Now
York senator had explained that McNeely
had declined to heed Consul General skin
ner's advice to sail on Dutch ship Sen
ator Works blazed the way to general
debate on the position OF the United
states In the war by declaring the AHieri-
can government was not neutral.
Asserting at the outset that the gov
ernment shared responsibility for deaths
of Americans on the Lusitanla, the Cali
fornia senator said
THE government knew that the Lusi-
.ania was loaded to the guards with am
nIunition and explosives. Passengers
we're permitted. in spite of this. to travel
on the vessel. The government, itself IN
full knowledge that the ship carried mu-
nitions of war. is morally responsible for
the deaths OF our citizens"
Reed Asks Questions.
When Senator Works declared the
United States actually was participating
in the war by the sale of munitions, Sen.
ator Reed. democrat, interrupted to ask
Does the senator not know that this
first loan placed in this country after the
war began was a loan of $25,000.000 tC
Germany, and that the loan was made
without protest from him or any othel
citizen? Does the senator not know tha
Germany procured arms in this countr!
as long as IL was possible for IT to ge
themY'
That may all be true" said Senate
Works. but that does not alter the sit
uation"
IL 1t be true continued Senator Reed
1Ssor.s.,,od -, f5aga uSi,,o fSoiun,v ssiv