The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-19
What Lodge said.


WASHINGTON. Feb. Ex-senator
Lodge. ranking minority member OF
the foreign relations committee. made
"A speech in the senate today declaring
that abandonment by the United
States at this time Of the principle
that its ports were open 10 and its
citizens free 10 travel upon merchant
men OF belligerent nations armed sole
~ Tor defensive purposes would be an
unneutral act and step toward war.
He said IL would make the United
States the ally OF the belligerent
whose merchant marine had been
swept from the seas.
The senator spoke az length. dwell
ing upon the history of International
law relating to the arming Of mer-
chantmen for defense and citing pre-
cedents in the record of the United
States He referred TO reports that
the administration was preparing TO
change its policy. which have been
denied by Secretary Lansing since the
issuance OF the German and Austrian
memorandums announcing their inten-
ton TO treat armed merchant ships az
war vessels after February %. As
late as the presidents note OF NIay
IL. 1915. signed by Mr.. Bryan. Senato-
Lodge said this government recog-
nized that American citizens were
within their indisputed rights i'm tax.
ing their Lips and in travelling where
ever their legitimate business calls
them upon the high seas
such" he added. has been the
practice OF all nations in regard TO
the armed merchantmen u seems
utterly incredible that this position
should be in any way altered now or
that our government should be- ready
10 surrender the unquestioned riglt
or Americans 10 travel or shin goods
on q belligercnt merchantmen subject
20 an the rules which have been cs
tahlished by the courts and bv AIN In
ternational authorities for al least twy
centuries.
The abandonment Of those rights bv
any neutral government on the GROUND
that the invention Of submarines with
thu necessary limitations upon the
powers of capture possessed by those
boats IS inconceivable Such abln-
donment could only rest on the GROUND
that the rights Of neutrals. the rules
which for centuries have been agreed
upon by all nations for the protection
Of innocent lives upon vessels cap
tured in war. must Doe thrown aside
sfrument Of maritime destruction
must not be impoded in its work Of
death and murder Such a doctrine
ls revolving 20 every instinct Of hu.
maniiy. 20 every principle of law and
Justice
There g.. however. another side 10
This matter which o. OF even greater
importance There can he no cues.
zion that any act Lv % neutral which
alters conditions created hv tho war
s on unncu'ral act and places fhe rru.
trail upon 'he side Of one berN rsrt
or mo other
This g. ominontiy truo nf arv form
NJ ru barge. and there Ia mo- Mood chat
T should repeat tho uran.w.rltfs 4rr.f.
mont on fhis point embodied bv Nr
lansing In Die note 0f lasf August tl
Che government of Austria fImrar.
Tho war. and war alone f.a rr..
created conditions under which qrr
change at This time in Tho attitude
which we look officially af fHc oufa.f
OF the war boo rerar1 to armed ma-
chau'mcn would Boz an urueurlI act
Tho merchantmen Of ono IaUr.rrrf
have been swept from OH. .laa T..r.
fore. ~ vo ahouId abandon 600 thr nrIu.
DIp.es on fhIa subject that u. have
'"'| . H|N'N. DIT L' |'|.| .'" Moon
ff0 rules laid down hF Ur LANSING
1 hIs circular OF september faft and
declare that our port. were ci.rrd fo
armed merrharfmer. nr fhHf good.
and passenger FROM hrrrf.I e'aI..
could not bo placed 0u au ur.uurI
.un.I mrrrhHnfmHr Hm.f ..I.f. ur
'f fefrn.r. our action would .u..f
only ono lnU.r.renf. i' would aIfa-
conditions created hg fhr nar. rrI
would therefore. hr unrrufuI 10
would make u. lf once Obj. 900. OFF fH.
Dol. rorrnf whose merchant marine
IH" been driven from f.D ocean Do
would b. Hrp toward rHr
II cannot believe fhaf fHU HfmIrI..
'raf'on Think. fnr moment ~ lf.r
M 'l. wrl drfIued position which ff.
TOOK ai 'Ir outset OFF .H. European
war; an1 believe fI.I H mH.f .HrI
FIRMLY ru f.. question a. Door.
nn Odd. question OFF fhn ,mharr.