The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-12-25
HOUSE HASTY IN DIPLOMACY
SIL/ER RESOLt TION Just AN
ENAN RE.
Grencc TO Russia Recalls Bismarck's
Rcbukc to Congress when II voted
Resolution Praising Liberal Ideas
OF Iashcr, late Heichstag Member.


tion of the House Of Representatives IN
passing the Sulzer resolution that offended
Russia has served to emphasize the fact
that the lower branch Of Congress when
it has taken the initiative IN dealing with
foreign affairs usually has succeeded in
irritating the diplomats and sometimes in
the end embarrassing itself Whether 1t
is that the House Yields more readily to
public opinion or that the sense OF re-
sponsiblity in dealing with international
relations is less. the fact is that It IL much
more likely than the Senate to take hasty
action ON these questions.
II is impossible to exaggeratc the en-
barrassing situation in which the Admin
istration found itself a. the result of the
adoption of the Sulzer resolution by the
House President Taft had just sent
message To Congress notifying II that the
State Department had undertaken Dip
lomatic negotiations with Russia and that
he had hope of efIecting settlement ot
the troublesome Jewish passport question
through these channels. The President
added that he would send in another mes
sage on the subject after the holidays and
ntmated plainly enough that he would
expect Congress 10 await this second
communication.
Suddenly, however. Mr. Taft found him
self confronted with the Sul2er resolution
as passed almost unanimously 10y the
House. The State Department, having
invited Russia into negotiations. was left
suspended between heaven and earth.
vi ith the passage of the resolution every
chance of a diplomatic settlement Of the
a 4 a pI Al
President was face to face with the more
pressing problem of averting serious
beak in our friendly relations with great
Power.
He quickly called together the Repub-
liCan members of the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations. and It was through
the sober Judgment of these men, acting
with the President and Secretary Knox,
that the note was framed which side
tracked the Sul2er resolution and terml
mated the treaty without giving offence
to Russia For the state Department
the situation was one of the most en-
barrassng II has had To face in several
wears II was characteristic of the
House. upon second Thought. To accept
the soft spoken. diplomatic resolution
Committee with just as great unanimlty
a. i, had the more helhgerent Sulzer
production II was another case of the
House wanting very much 10 accomplish
definite result without having waited
to quihble over diplomatic expressions.
The House knew what IT wanted 70 saw
and said It, leaving it for the more slowly
moving. dgntied Senate to admonish
them later on that they really should not
he so rash and impetuous.
/ The Sulzer resolution incident has
recalled TO the minds Of old timers in
Washington the Lasker case. IN which
the House was reprimanded bv Prince
Bismarck Chancellor of Germany, for
having expressed a formal opinion in
regard to the political affairs Of that
| country The House always has been
generous with it's opinions, hut this
Bismarck muss was one Of the most
embarrassing the lower branch of the
nat ional legislature ever got into.
| Edward l.asker. "A member of the
! ReichstaG. and a statesman Of sociahstic
tendencies. had died in this country
Thereupon the House resolved January
Q, 1854. as follows:
| ! nav TINS tph-s mas nedrl WIN deep re-
gret of the death of IN" eminent German
statesman Edward IaSker tia' his loss
is not alone rn ha moumed by tn people
of his native land. whore his firm and con-
stant exposition Of and devotion TO free and
liberal ideas hay" materially advanced not
only the social political and economic con
ditions Of tho~" people. but the cause Of
| liberty throughout the world.
| That "A copy Of these resolutions hc for
| wardod 10 IN" family of the dsCea sod as
| well a 20 IA" Minister Of the nited States
| resident at IA" capital of tho German En-
| pire 10 he hv him communicated through
the legitimate channels to the presiding
officer of N" legislative body Of which he
was a member.
This Tc~Olut ,On was communicated 20
Prince Bismarck through tn" Department
of state. of whiCh Frederick + Freling
huv-en was tn" head \ month or sC
later tins letter written nv Prince Bis
marCk to ia" German Ambassador AZ
Washington was communicated to In.
Secretary Of state
The envoy of the nited states of America
has communicate with note dated the
lst inst the tcN' of n resolution of the
American Hous" of Representatives dated
January o, IN which the House expresses it'
regret at the death of Dr Edward Laskcr
Every appreciation which the persona
qualities Of a German receive in foreign
country cannot but he pleasing to oui
national feelings. especially when emanat'
ing from such an important body IA The
, American House of Representatives
| should therefore have gratefully r."
ccivcd Mr. SHrgCut's communication anc
should have asked hl. Majesty the Emperor
10 empower rgN 10 present il 10 the EclCh'
tag If tn 70 solution of the 9th Of January
did not n IA" SAM time contain an opinion
on the direct 'IoI. and IA" effects of th" uu.ltl
cal action OF Reprcsonta'Ivo la~her whl'i
Is opposed to my conviction.
In the resolution u H. said in relation t'
the deceased that his firm and COnstan
exposition of free and liberal IDEAS hav,
materially advanced tho general politica
and economic conditions oi those people"
. From my knowlcdG" Of IN" course th
poh,lcal and eConOmi" development, of th'
German people has taken | cannot regard
this opinion as in accordance with the fact
have Witnessed | would not venture Il
, oppose my Judgment TO that OF an illus'riou
assembly like the House Of Representative"
| of the United States II ! had not game,
; during an active participation in German
an experience which encourages me- TO AT
; taCh also to my opinion II certain com
petenCy within these limits