The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-11-18
Coffee Explains His Vote
Against Ship-Arming Measure

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Fl voted for the original house
> bin. authorizing the srrning
q American merchantmen - long
ss they remained outside blockade
Eones and eelligerent ports. This
vas an innocuous measure request
ed BY the sesmen for their prutec-
ton. When this bill was before
TIRE house for consideration ore
month ago. We were assured by
the leadership II would not he
hrosdened or expansively amend
ed BY the senate.
But the senate proceeded to add
the amendments which substantial
" repealed the neutrality act. with
out any hearings Whatsoever. No
hearings on the senate amendments
have been granted by the sppropri-
ations committees Of either house.
This procedure 10 highly un-
ethical and ] regard as in con-
tempt Of the rights and privileges
Of the house IL In an intolerable
and inexcusable sffront to the
democratic process. a. provided for
in the constitution.
"I-Maritime insurance rates on
" English mere han I vessels
were reduced IS per cent the first
of the week. indicating Britsin's
merchant vessels are encounterinr
much less risk than heretofore.
"7-Great Britain censors mail
carried on American mer-
chant vessels. Testimony of house
committee members reveals that,
due to this censorship. orders from
Jatin-American business men to
American exporters for supplies
have been transmitted TO British
exporters. all TO the detriment Of
Americas foreign trade.
This censorship 10 wholly con-
trary to the freedom OF the seas
doctrine and should be ended
promptly as to American merchant
vessels and commercial planes.
"o-The repeal amendments were
" claimed to be needed In the
interest OF the doctrine known A.
freedom Of the seas This doc
trine was one of the fourteen
points which Woodrow Wilson pro-
claimed a. the basis for ending
World War No. /.
The freedom Of the seas
premise WAS not accepted by
Great Britain, however. and
was omitted from the treaty
of Versailles. Winston Church
III, In his book, The After
math,' published In 1879. dis
cusses this contention of the
United States ut length. He
therein stated that Great
Britain could not AT the Peace
Conference. then accept the
doctrine Of freedom Of the
seas and had persuaded Or
iando of Italy and Clemenceau
Of France 10 Join England IN
knocking out the freedom q
the seas.
Churchill added that Great Brit
aims continued existence depended
upon her maintenance Of the con-
troll Of the seas and her hostility
to the freedom Of the seas doc
trine. Censorship Of mails. grant
ing of nsvicerts. all are violativs
of freedom OF the seas. Though
international law recognizes the
nebulous philosophy of freedom of
the seas, all principal belligerents
among maritime powers in the
past two centuries. have ignored
or flouted IL.
"o-I could elaborate the above
points in detail. II time and
space permitted. There are sew
eral other telling and persuasive
reasons which motivated my no
vote upon the bill to repeal the
Neutrality Act IN the form In
which II came back 10 the house
from the senate. but lack Of time
and space denies my touching
upon them.
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