The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-08
DISCUSSES EMBARGO
FEATURE IN SECRET
SESSION ENTIRE DAY
Senator Martin Insists of Necessity for
Making Presidents Power Alb
soiute In Matter
ESSENTIAL To BAR EXPORTS
THAT MAY REACH ENEMY
Exports to Sweden Especially Require
investigation, A. That Country Is
Extremely Prp-German and Ships
Much Goods Across Cattcgat

Washington. May THE senate
wrestlsd throughout today in execu-
i've session with the embargo provis-
ions of the administration espionage
bill. Administration leaders under
pressure from the White House pro-
duced documentary evidence in vast
volume to prove to. the. satisfaction ef
the senate. which Is skepttcal. just how
necessary at this Juncture is n COM
plete authorization to the president to
prescribe drastic limitations upon ex-
ports of the United States.t,An en-
barge on the food supply TO neutrals
Is the only way to stop food from
reaching Germany they said
The effort OF the administration
leaders to force the exact phraseuloey
bill resulted In numerous clashes on
the floor
Martin stands BY President.
The point is made by Senator Mar
tin, of Virginia. that the restrictive
authority vested in the president
should he absolute It is pointed :
before Americas entrance into the
war materials were shipped TO neutral
destinations contiguous 20 the central
powers and reshipped 70 Germany and
Austria CONTRARY to the terms Of their
American manifest.
Most OF the evidence produced by
the, executive branch Of the govern
ment for the enlightenment Of the sem
ate dealt with the conduct of Sweden
in the present emerSency The recoSti
OF exports OF the United States TO the
various neutrals contiguous 10 Germany
is complete. In some instances the
figures are obtainabIe showing Just
rt,.
Germany from the neutraIs. In the
case OF Sweden the department OF COM
merce is without the necessary figures.
1t Is said that Sweden does not make
provision for the enlightenment of out
siders just now as 70 how much OF her
products are going across the Cattesat
and the Baltic TO Germany.
Gives President Full Authority.
The provisions of the espionage bill
as desired by the administration gives
the president complete authority TO re-
strict expectations. The Smith amend
ment, tackled on last week. provided
that he should have authority to re-
strict shipments and enforce the en-
barge only where goods were being
exported 10 points where danger OF
their ultimate shipment to enemy des-
tination existed.
MS afnFnIfuent was iHiu aSiut TO-
DAY. leaving the measure in its original
form
Opposition 10 the administration
plea for the embargo took largely the
form of protests that-th United States
by initiating an embargo against ex
ports 10 the smaller neutraIs was yio-
lating in form her own claim TO he
ing in this war to protect the rights
of the neutraIs and to protect the In
tegrity of the lesser and weaker ma
tionalities.
Pleads for Lesser states.
II am not willing to see the United
States adopt methods in war which
we are at the same time condemniug in
the German nations war strategy"
said Senator Townsend. of Michigan.
ITO coerce these small nations into
war on our side would result in the
kind of war which could do no good
to any nation on earth. Were fight
ing for the rights of the small states
BY such measure as this we only
serve to intensity opposition to the
cause of ourselves and our allies. It
may seem necessary, but II is unfair.
unwise and not in line with the mo-
tives which We are assured have led
us TO take an active part in this strife -
The sudden decision OF the senate to
NJ