Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-05

SENATOR'S ASSAM
BRITISH EMBARGO
Lewis Warns That Spirit of
1872 Will Prompt Retail
atory Legislation
ACTION IS POSTPONED
Declares Restrictions Directly
Violate Wilson's Peace
Principles
ACTION IS POSTPONED

Washington, Feb. after hours Of
emphatic condemnation of the recent
British embargo on American goods, the
Senate today deferred action on SEN
ator weeks's resolution. calling on the
state Department for Information as to
what steps have been taken to meet
British aggression.
Discussion of the measure will be re-
sumed tomorrow, when amendments
broadening it's scope will be offered.
Warning British officials TO beware
or they will awaken the spirit of 1912
IN the United States" Senator Lewis,
Illinois. charged that the British en-
barge does the United States great
violence and will create a wave Of pro-
test leading TO retaliatory legislation" "
Lewis strongly supported Senator
Weeks's resolution. introduced today.
asking the State Department TO inform
the Senate what steps have been taken
TO protect American industry from the
effects of the embargo. The embargo,
which Is effective March 1. adds several
hundred American products to an em-
barge list which Great Britain framed
as war measure.
Lewis said he has received hundreds
OF protests from manufacturers In the
Middle West, who are hard hit by the
embargo
THE West points out" said Lewis,
That most of the manufactured articles
are made nowhere else. Hence this Is a
! biow aimed directly at America.
Situation is Delicate
lit is not out Of place to invite Eng
lands attention to the delicate situa-
tfon created While the President is
battling in France for the welfare Of all
mankind. to have an ally nation take
a course so inimical 20 the welfare of
the United States is bound to rouse hos
tflity towards England and affect har-
mony In this country. 1t may defeat the
PRESIDENTS efforts for peace.
The embargo is in direct conflict
with President Wilson's peace term
against trade barriers.
II warn Britains officials to beware,
unless they are forced to this step by
great necessity"
Protection Needed Here
Senator Weeks declared. TT is time
We begin to pay some attention to our
home affairs and to determine whether
we will protect American business"
Answering the British explanation
that the embargo is TO permit rebuilding
OF their industries. Weeks said:
,sBuilding up of. these British indus
tries has the reverse effect on our own.
don't charge the British move is aimed
solely at the United States, but it's
a process of trying to build up the Brit
sh trade at the expense Of the United
States"
Weeks read the embargo list into the
record.
Knox Voices Opinion
Senator Knox said. although the
American people had expressed the opin-
ion that they had a right to send coast
wise vessels through the Panama Canal
Z without charge, and three big politica
parties had endorsed this policy Thu
Carnegie Peace organization spent $685.,
900. or $4,000 to circulate literature
urging the repeal of the act comforting
that right to shipping"
IT think the Pennsylvania Senator
should have added" interrupted Senator
Thomas. of Colorado. that much o
THAT fund was spent for the purpose o
4 circulating speech made in the Senat
by Elihu Root in favor Of the repeal o
that act
Senator Ashurst declared that hi
party's failure TO keep its pledge regard
ing that act had done more to under
mine confidence in the Democratic part
than anything we ever did"
Senator Knox stated that he believe
the free tolls question could have bee
amicably settled without repeal. Afte
the United States proposed arbitration
according TO Senator Knox. Canada
shipping interests caused England to In
sist upon repeal Of the law.
Senator Myers, of Montana. Demo
crat. denied that the tolls had been di,
astrous to the Democratic party, citin
subsequent party successes.
Senator Hoke Smith, Georgia, urge
adoption of the resolution.
II believe our duty Is to take care
the United States and the people of II
United States" Smith declared.
II want to see this resolution passed
Senator Reed. Missouri. said but don
want to see its passage as a mere fol
mality"
Reed criticized the Carnegie PeaC
Foundation.