The Washington herald., 1918-12-20
TO SCRAP
BOCHE WARSH|PS
R0USES SENATE
Lodge Demands to Know
the Authority for Such
a Proposal.
MUST BE APPORTIONED
Other Solons Join in Con-
/ demnation of Idea Credit
. ed to Peace Delegates.

Cabled news to the effect that the
American peace delegates support
the proposal that the warships
seized from Germany should be
''scrapped" yesterday aroused the
ire of a number of Senators.
Senator Lodge, ranking Republic
an member of the Foreign Relations
Committee. presented a resolution in
the Senate dema nding to know of
the State Department whether this
is a correct statement of the posi-
ton to be taken by the American
delegates.
The resolution directs that the
Secretary of State inform the Sem
ate whether the report that the
peace delegates of the United States
at Paris are advocating the destruc-
tion of the ships of war surrendered
to the allies and to the United States
is correct and. If so, by what au-
thority the delegates to the Pea ce
Conference are demanding the de-
struction of enemy property in part
surrendered to the United States"
VIII Address Senate.
Senator Lodge said that he intend
ed to address the Senate on the
subject of the resolution in a few
days, or as soon as the revenue bill
has been disposed Of
In an interview Senator Lodge
said: ...
1T is my intention to have dis
closed the exact source of this al
legged movement for the destruction
of the surrendered German feet.
and for this reason the resolution
is directed to the Acting Secretary
of State. Clearly the ships of the
German navy are the property of
the victor nations. 1t is interest
ing to know under what authority
the delegates to the peace confer
ence may assume to be acting. in
proposing the destruction of the
property of the United States.
The ships should be apportioned
among the nations which have par
ticipated in the protection, of the
commerce of the world and who,
through their persistent mainten-
ance of the Gordon which held these
ships at their bases ultimately COM
pelled their surrender without fir-
ing a shot. The German naval ves-
sells are of modern type. particular
lN
" are of the latest type, in most in
stances. But they are all modern
warships and the suggestion of their
being sunk is one of childish and
idle waste of highly valuable prop
erty.
Naturally in the apportionment
of the surrendered feet England
would get the lions share. but
France and Italy and the United
States have a property right in the
fleet"
Unbelievable, He Says.
Senator Harding. OF Ohio, who Is
a member of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee, as is Senator Lodge, said the
proposition was unbelievable, ano
Senator Penrose. of Pennsylvania, also
a member of the committee. said;
THE proposition is ridiculous. ]
cannot imagine why any sane person
should advocate it. Why should we
destroy these vessels when We are
short of TONNAGE"
Senator Borah. of Idaho, said:
II am utterly opposed to such a
7 proposition. L do not believe the
President ever approved it. In my
opinion, a plan of this kind could not
have been authorized by any respon-
sible official. II the Germans owe the
Allies and the United States money
1t certainly is not dishonorable to take
their ships in payment They cannot
make full restitution in a thousand
years. Nothing sentimental should in
terfere with taking the ships on ac-
count"