Arizona republican., 1916-02-25
After Two Days of Agitation In Congress for Action Warning Americans Off Armed Ships President Ttakes Definite Stand
NATIONS HONOR
 IS INVOLVED
President Expresses Hope Explanations Will Put Different Aspect on Situa
 tion Now Seeming to Pre- sent insurperable Obstacle
. Republican A. p. Leased Wlre1


 WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-President Wilson at the end of two days of agi- tation in congress for action warning Americans off armed merchantmen. wrote a letter tonight to Senator Stone, chairman of the senate foreign rela- tions committee, stating that he could not consent to the abridgement of the rights of American citizens in any re- spect.
 "The honor and self-respect of the nation is involved" he said. We covet peace, and shall preserve it at any cost but the loss of honor"
 The president expressed hope that explanations of the declared intentions of the central powers of Europe to sink all armed merchant ships without warning would put a different aspect on a situation wh ch now seemed to present insuperable obstacles
 We have had no reason to question their good faith or their fidelity to their promises in the past" he added, and 1 for one feel confident that we shall have none in the future
 The letter was in answer to one writ ten late this afternoon by Senator Stone outlining the situation existing at the capitol, where since yesterday morning persistent demands had been made for some action which might les sen the possibility of war between the United States and Germany
 The presidents statement will be re- peated tomorrow morning to Speaker Clark, Representative Kitchin, Major lty Leader, and Representative Flood, chairman of the house foreign affairs committee, who late today asked for an engagement in order to explain the position in which the house found itself and ask the president for statement of the administrators views.
 The president wrote his letter during the afternoon, shutting himself up in his study while congressional leaders vainly attempted to get him on the tel ephone to tell him of developments at the capitol and to arrange for the, calm of the house leaders.
 He began to write after telephone conversations with cabinet men and other close advisers. His decision was to end all speculation over the position Of the government and to let congress and the country know that the admin istration believed the United States could do nothing but stand behind the right of it's citizens to the freedom of the seas.
 At the state department today it was said that in it's international aspects the situation had not changed in the slightest degree for three or four days. Officials said nothing has been heard from Germany in response to the re- quest of the United States for assur- ances that previous pledges given in the Lusitania and Arabic negotiations would not be nullified by the new cam palgn against armed ships. Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassador. through whom the request was made. also was said to be without informa tion as to when response would be forthcoming.
 Confidential advices from Berlin. however, have indicated that Germany would reply that all assurances prevf- ously given would be observed. but that they applied only to unarmed yes sels, and would propose discussion of what defensive armament properly
 Continued on Page Three)