The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-03

but I was unconscious, of course, that other powers are involved. I said what
 I did on the theory that the diplomatic situation was being mainly conducted
 between the two powers I named and this government"
 MIND ENTIRELY CLEAR "I think the position of the allies who have command of the seas is the same on this question:" Senator Lodge continued T am entirely clear in my own mind as to the law and usages of
 nations in regard to armed merchant men and that they cannot be taken out of the class of peaceful trader except by demonstration that they are commissioned vessels and that they carry armament greater than that de- scribed at least in the circular of the Secretary of State at the opening of the war; or that they are used for of fensive purposes.
 eff I understand the position of the President as stated by the senator from Missouri on the question of armed mer- chantmen, and on the rights of neutrals to travel and ship their goods on mer- chantmen armed within the limitations generally imposed with that position, I am in full accord. I think that neutrals have a right, established for centuries, to ship their goods and take passage on belligerent merchantmen whether armed or unarmed, if armed within
 the limitations I have described
 "The precise question as I under stand presented by the President and also by the senator from Missouri, is whether Congress favors passing res
 olution warning American citizens to desist from the exercise of an undoubt- ed right No matter how it has been raised, it has been raised on the pre- else point embodied in the Gore reso- lution in the Senate and in similar resolutions in the House and if the
 President wishes vote on that precise resolution and on the precise point raised by the resolutions. think he ought to have that vote from Con- gress.
 HAS RIGHT TO KNOW "His position as I understand it, is that he is interferred with and ham, pered and crippled in his negotiations with foreign powers by the supposed attitude of Congress on this precise l question and which is used against him in the negotiations which he is carrying on by the power with which | he is negotiating. I think under these 1 circumstances he has the right to know, the question having been raised, what the attitude of Congress is on | that question of warning American 1 citizens from the exercise of what they
 
 1 doubted neutral rights. do not think that it can be disposed of in any gen. eral terms, by any votes of general con- 1 fidence or any general resolutions stat | ing the limitations between the execu- tive power in diplomatic negotiations and the legislative power I think we must meet the question as it is pre- sented
 l "The administration warned citizens of 1 the United States to leave Mexico. l have joined in criticism of that myself and it would be utterly impossible for me to criticize this administrator for l failure to protect American lives in de- spite the warning that has been given and then myself turn round and publish l to the world that an American who ex- ercised an equal right, to which he is 1 equally entitled. on belligerent mer- chantman. should not have the protection 1 of his country. I speak only for my self, but cannot supply two rules to a question like this"
 SENATOR WILLIAMS SPEAKS | Senator John Sharp Williams. demo- ! crat, stanchly defended the President Weak from illness he spoke with great
 feeling.
 sThere are times in the history of all