Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-25
House Members Express
Views About Alleged Revolt
Against President.
CARTER GLASS SCORES
CLOAKROOM STATESMEN
Denounces Efforts to "Circumscribe
American Rights to Save a
Bale of Cotton"

The armed ship discussion,
which caused so great a ferment
in the House of Representatives
for the past few days, has re-
suited in several statements from
representatives who want their
constituents to know Just where
they stand. Many representatives
are hearing from home on the
subject, and the interviews from
some of them give a clear idea OF
how seriously divided the House
is on this delicate subject.
One of the first statements was
that of Representative McLemore
of Texas, author of one of the
resolutions to warn Americans off
armed ships.
Finds No Legal Justification.
Mr.. McLemore said:
Ever since the question whether the
Lusitania was armed or not arose. pro-
British apologists have made the posi-
tive assertion that merchantmen have
a parfeCf IaOal RIGHT corry
armament. AS a matter of fact, have
not met single lawyer who was able
to indicate chapter or verse on which
that alleged right is supposed to be
based, while some experts tell me that
such a right does not exist under in
ternational law, but merely under an
old American statute. These men tell
me that since the declaration Of Paris
Of 1856. by which privateering was
abolished. armed merchantmen have no
status under international law except
as auxiliary cruisers of international
navies.
in consequence as between the sig
natories Of that declaration every mer-
chairman carrying guns becomes a
man of-war and must be treated as
such. The United States, not being
signatory of that declaration, naturally
may take any stand, and has, as a mat
ter of fact, thus far adhered to the
doctrine that merchantmen may carry
guns solely for defense and self-pro-
lection (See Moore's International
Law Digest, vol. II, page 1070)
Is Purely a Local Law.
However, 1t should be borne in mind
that this is our local law. not inter-
national. law. and that we have no
right to demand that signatories of
the Paris declaration should modify
their generally accepted rules in ac-
cordance with our municipal statutes.
Nevertheless, England has seized on
this point at the outbreak OF the war,
that we, not being a signatory OF the
object against her armtng her mer-
chantmen, while doubtless 1T was, and
Is, a gross violation of that declaration.
At the same time 1T is difficult to see
lions, being signatories of that decla-
ration, refusing to abide by England's
malpractice.
signed by Prussia. Austria. England,
Germany. Sardinia Utaly). Turkey.
Secretary Lansing's memorandum on
the armed merchantmen was practi-
cally an accession to the declaration Of
Paris by the United States. The assent
ed, inasmuch as every one of the naval
belligerents is already bound by the
declaration of Paris. But Senator
Lodge makes the point that having an
nounced ourselves at the beginning of
the war as tolerating the arming Of
merchantmen we cannot now change
our attitude"
Very Few on the Hand Car.
REPRESENTATIVE Carter Glass, chair
man of the banking and currency COM
mittee, and a strong administration
democrat, said:
II have been unable to discover any
revolt. A few cloakroom statesmen
have jumped on the political hand car
bound for hell. with the expectation
that they could carry a train load of
democrats along with them. In talk
ing with members of the House today
fail to find any coaches trailing after
the hand car. ! am disguised with the