The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19
PRE-WARACTS OF
HITCHCOCK RAKED
Poindexter Surprised at Con-
sideration Shown Now
for Allies.
ATTITUDE rs SURPRISING
Nebraska Senator's Pre-War
Policy Seems to Have I'm
dergone Little Change.
Special Despatch TO The Sun.

Special Despatch TO The Sun.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-The pre-war
record of Senator Gilbert M. Hitchcock
(Neb), now urging the early ratifca-
ton of the peace treaty on the ground
that our European allies need it and
that our sympathies for them ought to
move us to consider their interests. came
under examination in the Senate to-day.
Senator Poindexter (Wash.) ad-
dressed himself particularly to the rec
ord Of the acting Democatris leader, who
has repeatedly urged that early ratifica-
ton was intensely important to enable
our allies to resume normal modes OF life
and government. The argument, indeed,
has been favorite one among Admins
tration supporters.
More of this sympathy for our allies
would have been preferable" said Sena-
tor Poindexter, "at the time when they
were carrying the burden of a losing
war. Now that they are victorious and
they don't need 1t they are getting the
sympathy of people who, when they did
need 1t, emphatically withheld 1t from
them"
Senator Poindexter read into the
Record excerpts from the speeches and
statement OF the legislative proceed
ings of Senator Hitchcock. who from the
beginning OF general hostllities in 1914,
down to a very short time before the
declaration of a state of war by the
United States. devoted himself to eff
forts looking to TIE prevention of export
of war supplies to the Entente Powers,
who proclaimed 1.-The American mind was
being poisoned against Germany" and
who insisted that he favored peace
without victory"
After Senator Poindexter had pre-
sented his case Senator Hitchcock re-
Piled, and astounded the Senate by pro-
claiming he still believed we should have
| embargoed supplies to the warning ma
| tons. declared peace without victory
| would have been preferable, and that
had his proposals been adopted the war
would have been shorter and the United
States would not have been involved
in II. His speech shocked the Senate
and disturbed many of his colleagues in
| the Administration group.
Attitude on War Action.
1--WE have been told repeatedly" SEN
ator Poindexter said. that we must con-
sent to creating this tribunal giving
Great Britain six times our representa-
Europe and the services of Britain in the
war. The other day Mr.. Hitchcock said
he had not changed his position and de-
MED that he introduced an embargo res.
olution after the sinking of the Lusita'
MIA. When later II was shown from the
record that he did introduce that en-
barge resolution seven months after the
Lusitania's sinking he declared he had
no apology for his attitude toward the
nd I'd
But I conducted the armed neutrality
bill in the Senate interrupted Hitch
cock.
Eyes, that was a strange performance
but, of course, II was an Administration
bill in committee" Poindexter responded
docs the Senator charge that I did
not support the measure to the full ex-
tent of my ability?" demanded Hitch
cock.
Certainly I do" replied Poindexter
! 'sThc Senator urged consideration for
Germany and the German Government
and at that very time had bill and a
resolution pending here which would
have insured victory for Germany. He
was urging that we arm American ships
and at the same time was expressing
sympathy for Germany.
ION February 81, 1917. the armed
neutrality bill was introduced in the
/ House 1t was reported two days later
providing that the President be author
| lied to defend our merchant ships or
| the high seas against unlawful attacks
1t of course recognized that our ships
| had heretofore been subject to unlawful
attack Just as did the declaration OF
war adopted on April G, 1917. The
| President in his address to Congress or
April 2, 1917, said he had already in
I 10 ~ nNfic rNn1f ~
unrestricted submarines.
IT call attention to these things ir
the Record to show the condition that
had been existing for long time and
during that time while these attacks
were being made by Germany on Amer
| lea the Senator from Nebraska, Mr.
Hitchcock, subsequent to the sinking Of
| the Lusitania. which was the worst Of
| these outrages, catering for the German
vote, was declaring his sympathy fol
the German people and Germany.
Dual Rule on War Question.
| ION December 7, 1914, he introduced
Senate bill cess, forbidding the sale and
| delivery of arms and ammunition to any
nations with which America was al
| peace. The same day. showing his ac-
! tivity In this cause. he introduced Sen.
ate resolution 4SS, directing the Secre.
tary OF Comerce to inform the Senate
| II arms and ammunition were being ex.
ported from the United States, the guam
titles and what contracts were in force
| for such exports. on February 2, 1915
| he proposed this same matter as an
amendment to a bill pending 10 the
| Senate. On December Z, 1915, sever
months after the sinking of the Lusi.
tania, he introduced Senate bill $50
, prohibiting the sale and export of arms
and ammunition to any nation with
which the United States was at peace
| Between these dates the Senator was
very active in urging these measures
The American Embargo Association, ir
sympathy with Germany, was strongly
! supporting these measures, and the Sen
4 ator introduced bills and resolutions and
amendments in which 1t was interested
II his efforts had ~ucceeded then Ger.
many would now be debating the terms
/ of peace to the world.