The Washington times., 1916-01-30
Arms Embargo Will Be.
Beaten, Senator's Say.
Some Believe If Embargo Should Pass the President
Would Veto Dangerous Political Situation"
Declared to Have Strong Move
ment for Act.
By JuDsoN C. wELL1vER.

that our contribution OF munitions -
much more important than II really ",
and that to shut of these exports would
help to starvo, the war, -. a..
rect; Il would merely give an advantage
70 the central countries as against the
allies. About the time when, this ad-
vantase began to show military results
the underlying American feeling IN ia
vor OF the allies would assert itself. and
the Administration or the members OF
Congress- that had been responsible Tor
the embargo would fnd themselves
blamed for paying any attention to the
situation; I believe that u we ignore
the petitions we viii create some hos
tnity, and II we acduiesce in them we
Will later have an even more determined
criticism to meet. For myself. be-
lieve that we cannot now. after one
side in the war has established control
OF the seas. take step that would
amount to depriving It Of that advant-
age; II would be an unneutral act.
Therefore ! shall vote against the en-
barge"
Would Clamp Down Lid.
The recent Senatorial discussion OF the
subject has set on foot determined
effort to clamp down the I'D on future
discussions OF the same kind. The
Hitchcock bill to prohibit exports has
been sent to the Committee on Foreign
Relations. and even among members
who have Indicated their intention to
support the bill, there is said to be a
good deal Of wish that the measure may
be quietly put TO sleep In the commit
tee.
With this program friends OF the Nd
ministratlon are heartily sympathetic.
They were almost in a panic when, on
the very same day that the President
spoke In New York for preparedness,
the Senate broke out with an express
sion OF demand for the embargo. II
caused real alarm lest the Administra-
tion was going to be defied by a con-
siderable number of its own party Sen.
ators. Pressure is now being applied by
the politicians TO Keep the measure from
reaching q vote.
how the Foreign Relations Commit.
, tee stands is not at all certain. One
Senator, who favors the embargo, ex-
pressed the opinion that the bill in is
present form would not get out: but
he believed there was a good chance &c
bring out a measure giving the Presi.
dent power to impose the embargo, by
executive order. IL at any time he deem.
ed II desirable.
Full of Politics.
This would be a pleasant way to .un.
load all the responsibility on the Presl.
dent: II would be nominal victory foI
the embargo advocates. and a sop &c
the anti-munitions sentiment. while Al
the same time it would not change tn,
present situation, because there is nc
chance that President Wilson would
proclaim an embargo.
But Democratic politicians don't want
this responsibility unloaded on the Ad.
ministration. II would give all the ad
vantage to the Republicans, and thu
question, despite the procla nations oi
Congress members to the contrary. /,
as full OF politics as an egg OF susten.
aDce. The Democrats who are keeping
party advantage and interest i'm minC
are determined that the Hitchcock bill
shall stay in the Foreign Relations
Committee