The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-01
NO EMBARGO; NO SURRENDER

Mr.. Hughes, at Columbus, Ind,
yesterday put an end once for all to
the possibility that during this war
the United States will seriously at
tempt to place an embargo on ex-
port of munitions Of war. He de-
clared that he would not countenance
such a measure; neither would he
submit to any warning to Americans
to keep off the merchant ships Of bel
ligerents.
Mr.. Hughes was asked a question
which fairly stated the inquiry that
has been in many peoples minds for
long time. The question was:
In the event Of your election. will
you or will you not favor or oppose
an embargo against the shipment OF
munitions from this country to Eu-
rope, or the passage OF war reso-
luton warning Americans not to
travel on ships owned by nations at
war?
To this Mr.. Hughes made a
prompt and particularly emphatic
reply which most specifically in
sures that when elected he will sus-
tain the fullest rights Of Americans
on the high seas and in interna-
tional trade. With the leaders Of
both political parties taking this at
titude, there will be no danger Of
such embarrassing and weakening
proposals as the Gore and MacLe-
more resolutions again getting real
consideration. This country would
stand vastly stronger before the
world today if those resolutions had
never been conceived. What Mr..
Hughes said to his questioner was:
l. sir. am in favor Of the main
tenance of every. right. including
the right OF travel and the right OF
shipment. 1t Is very important at
this time. when the great war Is
raging that we should vindicate
Integrity OF international law. To
my mind. II is a very thoughtless
policy that would surrender any
OF these important rights because
of any sentimental consideration.
when We have the vast necessities
of neutral commerce and the i'm
portance OF the rights of neutrals
TO consider with respect to the
future OF the United States.
In all these matters dislike
very much to strain my voice In
my earnestness, and must not do
it-but in all these matters we are
looking far to the future. We must
consider our place as a great nation
devoted to the interests OF peace.
When these crises arrive We are
trustees. really guardians OF our fu-
ture. We may ourselves. though
heaven forbid. be involved In diff
culties. when these rights are Of the
utmost Importance.
We should have the right to buy.
We must maintain the right to
buy. We have the need. In the abb
sence OF merchant marine such
as we should have-we have the
need OF utilizing the facilities OF
travel, and we must protect Amer
lean citizens In every right. with
respect to life. property. and COM
merce, as to all nations.
For the United States to deny it.
self the right to sell-a right that
has never, until this war, been seri
ously questioned-would likewise be
as Mr.. Hughes makes plain, to deny
itself the right to buy. Having nc
merchant marine of our own we
must use and must sedulously con
serve the right to use the shipping
facilities Of other countries.
The right to sell munitions Of wal
has been exercised by every natior
that has had them to sell. Our owl
country bought them wherever il
could get them, during all its wars
Germany, which now leads the hypo
critical protest that "this war would
long ago have been ended but fol
the American sale of war supplies,
has been the worlds chief producer
and purveyor of such supplies. Ger
many, too, protests that it is fight
ing for the freedom of the seas
fighting as we have seen it fight il
the cases of the Lusitania, the Fa
laba, the Sussex, the Marina. Mr.
| Hughes and the Republican part,
stand for maintaining the real free
dom of the seas.