New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-02
The Duty of Congress.

CAeIleu III UidlltI anu Iithi4i'i' - -
verses the ordinary conception on which
the conduct of American foreign relations
rests.
The Constitution puts all the initiative
in foreign policy. short Of declaration OF
war. in the hands Of the President. That
is wise arrangement, since chaos and
impotency would result if the President
had to share responsibility for our diplo-
macy with the 531 members of the two
branches Of Congress.
Congress always finds itself at an enor-
nous disadvantage in attempting to inter
fere with the conduct of foreign affairs. 1t
is a body of many minds. Unity of opin-
ion is hard to attain-the more so since
the Executive may, and usually does, de-
cline TO disclose the more important secrets
of diplomatic intercourse. IF the houses
pass "A Joint resolution-the equivalent OF
an act-the President can veto 1t, and TO
be made effective it must be repassed by
two-thirds vote in each branch. The
courts would probably hold it void as law,
in so far as it tries to coerce the President,
even if passed over veto.
If the two houses adopt concurrent
resolution, the Executive can ignore 1t. In
1895. when Congress was planning TO pass
such a resolution, committing the United
States TO intervention in Cuba, Secretary
Olnev remarked sarcastically that the gov
ornment would attach just as much I'M
nortance 10 it as it would attach to any
g bV a we'll
meaning body of citizens.
The only function which Congress can
hone to discharge successfully IN foreign
affairs is TO exercise certain moral re
-traint over the acts Of the Executive. 1t
NAV condemn policies which it does not ap-
prove. thus forcing an issue between 1t and
the President. which must later go to the
peoplc. But it is unreasonable, as RUE
undor our constitutional system, to ask
Congress to participate in shaping DIP
lomatic policy which is still in the max
inc or TO give 'vote of confidence to
any general programme. as TO many OF the
details Of which it must remain-at least
partially-in ignorance.
In 10 Tuesday Mr.. Wilson had followed
the normal course of accepting TO the 1ul
lis constitutional responsibility for the
management Of foreign affairs. lie was
eo+isfed TO be let alone. He had no quar-
reI with Congress 50 long as it refraned
from onenlv interfering with his diplo-
macy. He was willing to dismiss the opin-
inn of Congress as interesting but unim-
o~,ort much as President Cleveland and
Mr. Olnev did. Where he had exclusive
,,,,.or he was willing to exercise exclusive
authority.
Il IS obvious, therefore, that some eX-
ceptional factor must have opera'eu 10
norsuade him to face about suddenly ana
- demand that Congress pass at once on
,ho eoundness Of the position in regard to
s.,hr,,arine attacks on merchantmen armed
for defence which he had taken IN MS
Liter 20 Senator Stone. 1t could hardly
Ln,.o been the gravity of the diplomatic
s;,uation which impelled HIM to ask Oon-
oross ~ nut itself on record for the DIP
,ou,ot;c situation has been graver on many
a.hor occasions than it is to-day. 1t must
have been the gravity OF the pohtical
..;e;s IN Mr.. Wilson's own party that
aarv moved him TO adopt the heroic
r,cthod of boarding the Democratic ihsur
ecnts at the Capitol.
What the President insists upon y
showdown between his party supporters
a,d his party opponents. Is the Demo
-. organization in Congress Tor HIM or
a;,et him? This. it may be argued, and
Ill be argued, Is more question OF
domestic politics than of foreign relations
Noyortheless. on the specific issue raised
.Lo NcIenorc and Gore resolutions the
President is individually right, and 1t IS the
,.,., ~ Congress 10 support him uncon-
,..;s,auy The United States ought not 70
surrender neutral rights, undlSpu'eu even
>, Germany until after the present war
tsoan simply because it might cost some
80. 90 assert and vindicate those rights
uare l. a question Of national honor and
a.;oraI self.respect. The country must
- On the principle that the rights OF
American citizens arc not to be abridged
aoy respect. 10 do otherwise woulc
- us AZ weaklings and towards.
Tho House Of Representatives and the
conate ought 20 vote down any resolution
oso,,cd forbidding American citizens t
travel on merchantmen armed ior deiehc'
or warning them not to take PASSAGE OF
sucb merchantmen. II that is oil tn
president wants. Congress should acced'
90 his request 10 bring The McLemoro an'
core resolutions 20 vote
ii 0nVh'
,efuse 20 dodge the single, definite issu'
now before it by giving the Admin,stra
, ,'or,s diplomacy in general "yote Of con
sJo,ce" It is no part Of the business o
.n give hufh votes. what thl