The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-05
WILSON SURPRISED
BY NEUTRALITY BILL
BRYAN Carried Resolution
Around. but Didn't Tell
President About 1t.
so 1T HAD TO BE CHANGED

WASHINGTON. March 4.-Light was
she'd to-day upon the e%xtraordi-
nary situation caused last night by
the appearance in Congress OF the
Administrators bill to give the
President greater power 30 enforce
he neutrality Of the United States.
II WIS learned definitely that President
Wilson never had seen this measur un-
III after II had been introduced IN Con-
gross and then he was plainly surprised
at the character OF the bill.
As usual, Secretary of State Bryan
seems TO be responsible for the predica-
himself. Mr.. Bryan apparently carried
the bill to the Cabinet meeting last
Tuesday in his coattail pocket and
walked away with 1t without having
shown the measure to the President.
Another interesting fac, is tina the
Department OF Justice and the Depart
ment OF State have had the neutrality
resolution under consideration for two
months. With all that time to perfect
tho measure and send it to Congress in
a formal manner. the bill was thrown
nto the hopper in the closing hours Of
the session with the explanation that
secretary Bryan was too busy to attend
10 the matter himself and mad directed
Robert Lansing. the State Departments
counsellor. to present the resolution to
Leader Underwood with a view 20 it's
immediate adoption. Mr.. Bryan. IL was
explained. had been obliged to attend a
meeting of the an-American Union.
President Surprised.
President Wilson vas absolutely sur
prlsed when he learned from members
OF the Foreign Relations Committee of
the ambiguous ph~raseology Of the bill
and the doubt that existed over the
powers sought to be conferred. SEN
ators Lodge and Root pointed out TO the
President particularly that the loosely
drawn measure would lay him open
20 embarrassments. II would give Ger.
many ground for complaining that the
United States in shipping arms aad
ammunition 20 the Allies was violating
one Of it's own statutes.
President Wilson was quick TO realize
the Importance OF these objections and
Joined with the Senate Foreign Rell-
lions Committee in rccasting the resolu-
ton. making /, explicit and definite anc
simplifying its purposes. Under the
resolution as IL was turned out from
the experienced hands OF Senators Roo,
and Lodge. the President has got viz.
tually all of the power sought undo.
the original draft. hut in such "A way
40 to avoid embarrassment.
How II Happened.
The way the mixup came abou, seems
20 havc been as follows:
Tho state Department and the Depart
mont OF Justice had been comforting In
ieGard to the proposed legislation for
rVp months, hut had been unable to
agree. Finally the state Department
drafted one resolution expressing its
IDEAS and the Department of Justice
another.
Secretary OF state Bryan. fearing that
Congress would get away wlthou, acting
on the resolution, withdrew his objsc-
lions and accepted the draft drawn at
the Department. of Justice. which was
largely the work OF Assistant Attorney
General Warren. Mr.. Bryan Carried
;h.s with him to the Cabinet meeting
on Tuesday and delivered IL to the At
torney-General, but apparently failed 10
snow il 20 President Wilson.
!, was not until yesterday afternoon
hat the resolution was returned by the
General to the state Depart
nent. and when II came I'm Mr.. Bryan
vas leaving to attend the pan-American
meeting. lie accordingly asked Mi.
lansing to rush Il to the House ana
senate with a request for immediate
action.
This was done. and the confusion that
.pllowed led to the conference AZ the
White House and radical changes in the
resolution.
When this conference al the White
House was going on Secretary Bryan
was al home in bed.