Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-14
FREEMAN FAvoRs USE OF AMERICAN SHIPS
Nation Should at Once Begin Con
 struetion of a Huge Navy.

Y Congressman Freeman is taking a
 prominent part in the house debate of
 late. Recently he made an argument against armed merchant ships being recognized as peaceful vessels. He said:
 While it is true that in most games the rules cannot be changed during equally true. that in the game of war the ruies of International law have been constantly changed by the proc lanlations and regulations of powerful belligerents, and also by the procla- nations. of powerful ncutrals. and such changes have afterwards become recognized and well esta blished inter national law The United States of America, neutral nation. now has 1t in it's power to make a most essential, most beneficial change in the rules of international law. We have now the most available, the most necessary neutral ports of the word. It has all ways been true that war vessels of bciligerent nations have been denied privileges in neutral ports. and 1t is true that the peaceful merchantmen of the belligerent nations have been granted certain privileges in neutral ports. It appears during the progress of this war that a merchantmen in- extensively armed. in accordance with international law of the past, is now practically a battieship for offensive purposes against submarine at the moment it emerges from the depths. It is most desirable for the United States of America to make full, effi- cacious and yet lawful use of subrna- rines in case of war with other na- tions. (Applause.) Therefore we should establish this rule, that our neutral ports shall not be open to an armed mercllantman of belligerent na- tions. (Applause.)
 Our trade may be injured our trade may be crippled. buE if we can establish tbis principle that armed vessels shall no longer be considered peaceful merchantmen, it will rebound immensely to the protection and se- curfty of our nation in the future.
 The submarine should have the right in perfect safety to come to the surface of the ocean and to challenge without danger peaceful merchant man to stop It should have the right in safety to visit and search a vessel held ito by it. I hope the time will ognize that the submarine must aI- low the crew and assenSers-men. women and children--to- proceed in safety, and -apprehend that at the conclusion of this war; and perhaps during if, the rule may be established that submarine may without danger ,order-tl1e crew Of a. merchantmen to. throw o.eriooard munitions of war and contraband and then must permit the ship to proceed in safety to a port if its destruction would endanger lives. We may. by taking firm stand upon this matter, change the. rules of fn-. ternationaI law even during the prog ress Of this war, so that submarines may warn without danger may search and visit. and may destroy munitions Of war. and yet the lives, of, non- com patanta may, not be put in fjeopardy.',a ',a fApplause.).
 Later in the debate he spoke again after being yielded three minutes by Mr.. Butler. . . "In these three ninutes-,I want to say few words in behalf of the offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts. Tn my humble opinion, we should consider the stern