Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-24
Leaving 1t to President.

that
Leaving It to President.
Representative Foster of Illinois has
begun to take an opposite view from
the foregoing:
Il do not expect to introduce any
resolution on this subject" he said
land as much as am opposed t6
Americans trav cling on armed liners,
do not think that this is the time to
{ interfere with the President. However
If the President comes to the end OF
Ibis rope. then l believe he should take
Congress into his confidence"
From every source there is the plain
indication that the House fight will
be between decks. and that as far as
possible all spectacular showings
are leading the revolt are not fresh
men but seniors. some of them almost
in the postgraduate class. SO long
have they been here in Congress. For
this reason they will not risk their
convictions and their chance to come
Z out on top, whatever it may be. by a
wild display of oratory. If there are
ANY youngsters who want to cavort
about the House, they will be restrained
II possible.
81 The McLemore resolution is fol-
lows:
. Whereas the governments Of two of
the powers mt present In war in Europe
and ON the high seas have Informed all
neutral powers of their intention to In
struct the commanders of their sub
marine naval VESSELS to attack upon
sight after February % all armed
vessels of their enemies, whether such
armed vessels are admittedly naval
vessels or carry their ornaments un-
der the name and Euixe of defensive
armament for merchant shipx"; and
L.. Whereas the government of Ger
nm NJ he yvh
40 informed the neutral powers. has
submitted to the government Of the
United States Photographic facsimiles
of alleged secret orders of the British
government. which secret orders direct
that such so-called defensive arma-
ment for merchant ships" shall be used
OHensively and shall he manned and
directed by naval officers and men of
the navy Of Great Britain. and that
such so-called defensive armament for
, merchant ships" and such naval officers
and men shall he. no far rs possible,
concealed and disguised when in neu-
tFal waters and ports, with the evident
intention to deceive; and
Whereas the only possible use for .
"defennive gun" is the same the
use for an "Onensive gum namely. to
shoot. and, II possible, destroy dam
age the enemy ship, whether submarine
or other naval craft: and
Whereas the government Of the
United States has neither the desire
nor the right to dictate to any of the
powers whether they shall arm their
merchant ships with 9una or other
armament or not, and has NO interest
In the suecess or failure of such ships
10 armed In using their armaments I'm
the only way in which they could be
effectively used. nam ely, in deatrOying
or injurfng enemy submarines or other
naval vessels; and
Whereas the government of the
United States has NO interest I'm the
RA ~e
or other naval vessels of any power
in escaping destroying such mer-
chant ships 40 armed. and has NO de-
sire or right to dictate to any of the
protect their vital interests and pursue
their legitimate beIligerent operations
and
Whereas the government OF the
ntted states can not look upon any
naval engagement between any armed
ships Of opposing belIieerent powers
mo matter how such ships, or any one
OF such ships. may be designated OF
Kagement undertaken by each b%llix-
erent with the purpose Of destroying
the other bellixerent ships and the
lives OF the people thereon; and
Whereas. while Ii In Indifferent as to
bubble. about such terms as "onens-
I've" and "defensive" applied to gun,
On sp pr OF power. .t war. the govern
rOncerned TO offer Its own citizens tho
hest possible advice, counsel and M.
distance In avoiding the hazards OF
whereas the governments of Ger
snany and Austrin-HunRary have given
the government of the United state,
positive assurance that unnrmed shin,
carrying chiefly nOn-belliKer~nt Dnssen.
gers Will not be sunk-unIes. while re-.
sistinK the right of visit and search
unIess II Is certain that the nOn-be Ilix.
erenf pnnsengers can be removed 10 n
place Of safety; and
whereas the government of the
hNeo stnten II vitality interested in
pres~rSfng TO it's own xnrshfp.. .uh.
marine and other war vessels full nee
e..ary freedom Of action against an
enemy, whether avOwed or dIxxuIsed
In any possible future war, Therrfor,
Resolved. That the House NJ R.,
sentatiSes Of the sixty-fourth Con.
kress OF the United States do .nd .,
hereby soiemnly does. r~aue.t m.
President TO warn all American cIta.
zena, within the borders of the In,,.I
state. or Its possessiOns or eI.ewhere
20 reirnin from travelling on any ant
all ships of any and NIL Of m. u..
now or In future at war. which shin n,
ssips shall mount guns. whether sucI
p DC frankly aso"ed = part of tn.
naval forces of the power whose flag n
Mes or shall be called a merchant .s,n
or otherwise, and whether such Uun y,
guns or other armament be called .oS.
or defensfve"; and in cas-,
American citizens do travel ON .urI
armed belliKerent ships, that they =.
80 At their own risk.
e. That when the President Of n,
Il nited States or the Secretary Of Star,
mail come into possession OF the ne
-.tua1 memorandum of the German gov
ernment, containing Photographic fac
stDaflea of alleged secret Instruction
issued by the British government
which alleged secret Instructions direc
that s0-ealled "defenslve armamen
for merchant ships" shall be used of
fenslvely, and that sO-called "defensiv,
armament for merchant ships" shall b,
manned and directed by naval Omcer