Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-01
ARMED SHIP POLICY
DECLARED IN 1914
Statement by Representative
Sims in Reply to Criticism
of Administration.
QUOTES NOTE TO GERMANY
WRITTEN BY Mr.. LANSING
Says U. S. Position Was Made
Known When National Election
Was Nearly Two Years Off.


Replying to speech by Representa-
tive Mondell yesterday in the House or
Representatives aimed at the policies
of the administration in connection
with armed merchant vessels. the
rights of United States passengers and
submarines Representative Sims de-
livered an address in which he directed
attention to the fact that the United
States announced its position. at a
time when national election was
nearly two years off. in the following
language:
N merchant vessel of a helllSefeht
nation may carry armament and am
! munition for the sole purpose OF de-
tense without acquiring the character
of a ship at war.
This Mr. Sims quoted note from
i Mr.. Lansing. then acting secretary "a
state. to the German empire. dated
September 10. 1914. declaring III.
status of armed vessels. He said II
was done at time when there was
no temptation to seek poilt.cait, re-
vantage in declaring a status with re-
ference to armed or unarmed Nesseis'
Defends the Administration.
| Defending the administration, Repre-
sentative Sims placed in the Congress
| sional Record diplomatic correspond
| encc between Great Britain and the
United States and Germany and the
| United states. dated in September and
| December, 1914.
Commenting. he said. in part:
THE gentleman from Wyoming tMr.
a
| and learned speech. but he said good
| many things that it seems to me- under
! the circumstances. would nave oeen
! better left unsaid. Perhaps tonight
| will be one of the momentous nights IN
| the history of the world. and ! think
! il behooves US at such a time as TINS 10
| forget partisan politics and political
| advantage or personal eXcoriation and
| criticism.
Much has been said on the question
| of defensive armament. What is a mer-
| chant vessel. pursuing the course that
peaceful commerce permits, and what
takes it out of the channel of peace
full merchant vessel and converts it
into a vessel OF war? The question was
raised through diplomatic channels in
August. 1914, as to the rights OF de-
fensively armed merchant vessel in our
: ports. The question was raised by
Great Britain. 1t was contested by
Germany. and our government stated
it's position with reference to the repre-
SentatlOnS OF tnat government. 1t Hlaue
it at a time when the submarine ques-
ton had not become acute. at time
when there was as much GOODNESS and
deliberation as could well exist on the
part of the governments concerned. and
especially of our own government. 1t
was made at a time when William J.
Bryan was Secretary of State-and no.
body will ever accuse him of having
been a war jinGo. and 10 one will
ella i'm there is any Droba bility that he
ever will be one
Comments on Mr.. Lansing's Note.
Commenting upon Mr.. Lansing's
statement Of the United States posi-
ton, as quoted above. Mr.. Sims con-
tinued:
That was the statement of our posi-
ton with reference to merchant ves-
sci armed for defensive purposes I
will put in the whole statement in
which our government goes on to state
what will be regarded as Indications
that a merchant ship was armed only
for defensive purposes But in this
same statement I call attention to one
particular part, and that liz that Port
authorities, on the arrival in any port
of the United States of an armed vessel
of belligerent nationality claimed to be
a merchant vessel. should Immediately
investigate and report to Washington
on the foregoing indications as to the
intended use of armament. in order
that it may be determined whether the
evidence is sufficient to remove the pre-
sumption that the vessel is and should
be treated as a ship Of war Clearance
will not be granted until authorized
from Washington. and the master will
be so informed upon arrival
THAT statement was made on the 18th
Of September. 1914. I want to say that
every nation on earth and every citizen of
every nation on earth. as well as all citi-
zens Of the United States, had a perfect
right to assume beyond cavil or question
that this special investigation as to
whether or not particular ship was
armed simply for defensive purposes was
to be determined by the government here
In Washington, before clearance was As
sued. and We must assume and conclude
that 1t was lawful, legal. proper and right
for any person to engage passage on such
| a ship. and that no man in doing so was
himself reckless Of his own life or of the
interest Of his country because he trusted
in the good faith and honesty of our
own government in its investigation thus
made as to each and every vessel to which
clearance was issued"
49, Ne