The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-27
FEAR OF WAR CAUSED CONGRESS TO REBEL OVER THE POLICIES OF
 PRESIDENT WILSON
tContinued from Page one,

idence by gentlemen considered to be in position to know whereof they spoke a majority of the members of
 both houses rallied to the plan of Sen
 ators Gore and Jones to prevent an irrational American taking passage on an armed merchantmen of belligerent nation, and thus endangering the peace of this nation and the lives of millions of it's citizens.
 The strenuous efforts of administra- tion leaders coupled with the fact of general knowledge that it would be inexpedient at this juncture in the ne gotiations between this government and that of Germany to make it appear that the chief executive was without the support of Congress, have had pal Hating effect, and the indications are that for the moment, at any rate, no open rupture will occur.
 In an attempted poll of the Senate on the question of whether or not one American should be in position to plunge the United States into foreign
 war; the New York World this morning enrolled Senator Bankhead and Senator Underwood with the negative. It is learned, however, that neither author ized such publication. Senator Bank
 head this afternoon said:
 ALABAMA SENATOR'S VIEWS
 At this time, when negotiation be- tween the United States and Germany
 is nearing a crisis, and when there is actual danger of war involving our government I would consider it ex-
 ceedingly unfortunate should the Gore or Jones resolution be discussed on the | floor of the Senate"
 Sena.or Underwood was decidedly more explicit:
 According to & law already enacted and in force, an American cannot board an English vessel in New York and on payment of his passage, sail down the coast to New Orleans We have taken | that step in the interest of our com merce Why should we not, therefore, ! in the interest of millions of American ! lives, deny an American the right to sail on an armed vessel of a belliger- | ant nation?"
 Just what action each would take
 or Congress would take-in the event of an actual vote on the Gore resolu- ! ton is unknown. It is frankly stated, i however that but for the existing ten
 sion in foreign diplomatic affairs, Con-
 gress would make it impossible for an | American to take passage on a belliger-
 ent vessel, and thus run the risk of plunging the nation in a bloody strug- | gle of exceedingly doubtful issue.
 TO DISCUSS GUNS | Secretary Lansing indicated today that
 the United States was prepared under l certain circumstances to discuss with the German government what may properly
 be regarded as defensive armament for l merchant ships. In no event, however, { according to authoritative information 1 tonight will the United States enter into l such negotiations unless it is assured | that the lives of American citizens
 aboard ships armed. for defense will not l be endangered during the discussion. /! Only three days remain before German | and Austrian submarine commanders | will be instructed to treat armed mer- 1 chant ships as war vessels. There was
 no indication today that issuance of l the order, announced in formal notifica-
 ton from the central powers for Feb
 ruary 29 would be postponed although l it was admitted that postponement would not come as a surprise.
 | Leaders in both houses of Congress, who for several days, have agitated l passage of a resolution warning Amer | jeans not to travel on armed ships, l seemed convinced tonight that no such mea sure could be put through at pres l ept. Senator Gore, who has such a resolution pending, said that while he l still favored a warning, he believed the objects sought by his resolution already 1 had been accomplished through pubic i discussion. Representative McLemore | whose warning resolution in the House | has been kept from coming up by ad- nIinistration leaders. said he was content ! to wait until the President and Secre- i tary Lansing had opportunity to try out their policy of asserting determinedly the right of travel on armed ships.
 AWAITING APPENDICES
 Y Administration officials still were awaiting the receipt of the appendice.
 to the latest German memorandum or
 the subject which contain what is al leged to be copy of confidential in
 structions given to British sea captains \ II this document contains what the Ger man government claims, it is said tt be probably inquiries may be addressed to Great Britain on the subject. Th' British government sometime ago as sul ed the United States that its mer' chant ships would not operate often sively.
 Germany, i'll its memorandum gives a' one of the cardixHl reasons for it's de termination to sink armed merchan
 ships Of her enemies without warning
 the fact that German submarines hav