The Washington times., 1916-03-01
Now Marking Time.


Now Marking Time.
In the meantime the Administration is
marking time In reference to the nego-
tiations with Germany. Copies of the
secret orders OF the British Admiralty
not having arrived the President and
his advisers are still undecided definite-
" as to whether the United states Gov
eminent Is justified in insisting on the
right of Americans to travel on armed
British merchantmen.
On the other hand. officials are scan
ming eagerly ali reports reaching the
State Depai tment concerning the oper-
ations of the new submarine campaign
of Austria and Germany.
To the extent &c which the single act
of a submarine commander may pre-
cipitate a treak, II In realized that the
wchle situation rests on volcano.
The President, expanding on the let
ter which he wrote last night to Chair
man Pou. OF the House Rules Com
mittee. informed Congress leaders today
that a most serious effect has been
brought about In Berlin by the reports
reaching there that Congress was not
behind the President. and would upset
his efforts by passing resolution
warning Americans to keep off armed
liners.
For that reason he insisted that Con-
Rress should place itself on record, one
way or another, and he preferred that
II should do so by voting squarely on
such a resolution. He would prefer. he
said. that the vote should be taken on
tho McLemorc resolution in the House
and the Gore resolution in the Senate.
which were practically identical in their
prrport.
Must Show It's Hand.
Thus. 1t was explained. Congress
would have to show by n negative vote
whether it stands by the President or
not, for II has been against the pas
sage OF such legislation that the fresi-
dent has set himself firmly.
Chairman Pou. Of the Rules Com
help the President explained to him
today that the Rules Committee could
not bring out rule for the immedi-
until the Foreign Affairs Committee
had first reported.
The President also conferred with
tucky. another OF the Administration
leaders in the House.
The impression left at the White
House after the conferences was that
II the opposition to the President ap-
pears negligible, as II now seems to
be the vote may be a viva voce one
rather than a roll call
Wilson's Wishes Not Known.
Tho House membership figuratively
chased itself ir circles for two hours
prior to the convening of that body and
during the early afternoon. Nm leader
seemed to know definitely what the
President sought. nor what form the
resolution would take
NotwithstaDding the fact that tho
President conferred during the morn
Ing with leaders of both bodies, there
was everywhere about the capital an
air OF indecision regarding not only the
substance OF a proposed resolution but
the real wishes of tho Chief Executive.
= Ono group OF legislators said they
understood the President desired "voto
OF confidence" Within few minutes
another group worked on the assumption
that the White House desired a straight
out vote on the McLemore resolution.
This latter resolution, or one similar
to II, would warn Americans not 10
travel on the armed merchant ships Of
belligerent countries.
The adoption of such q. resolution
would be far from a vote of confidence:
its defeat would be an indirect express
sion Of approval OF the Presidents for
eign policy.
Leaders Feel Resentment.
Not In many years have there been so
many conferences among the influential
leaders of the House. One after another
these leaders asserted that the situation
was one OF uncertainty-one yet to be
worked out.
mo living man knows what form the
resolution will take until It comes from
the committee on Foreign Affairs
said a somewhat bewildered leader of
the House when newspaper CORES
pondents pressed for definite informa-
ton.
The conferences at the White House
ing feature of the situation which de-
veloped so unexpectedly last NIGHT -.
ract that the President wrote the Rules
committee for action on a resolution
which had been pending before the COM
mittee on Foreign Affairs caused a bit
of resentment among House leaders
last night and early today.
II appeared that the President had
ignored the Foreign Affairs Committee.
which for several days past had tcen
sitting on the Id to prevent the re-
port OF just such a resolution as The
president would now have come to a
vote.
Labored Under Misundersta anding.
1t is understood that at his confer
ence with Speaker Clark and Majority
Leader Kitchin today. the President ex-
p.ained that his communication to the
Rules Committee should not be con-
strued as n slight OF the Foreign Az
fairs Committee. The President, IL In
undergtood. told his House auditors
that ne had iabored under misunder-
standing Of the methods OF procedure
Rules Committee because he thought
this the only means OF obtaining prompt
action.
With this explanation from the Pres.-
dent. members of the FOREIGN Affairs
Committee were ablt to proceed in
more even frame of mind to n consid-
Grafton of the requested resolution.
The orderly course OF procedure IL
that the Foreign Affairs Committee
shall report q resolution meeting the
present crisis and the Rules Committee
then will give 1t privileged status.
May Frame Resolution Today.
Despite the general impression that
the Foreign Affairs Committee would
convene with the return OF Chairman
Flood from the White House. there was
no immediate getting together OF the
members OF that committee, Instead,
the chairman conferred with various
House leaders-the Speaker. Mr. Kitchin,
Mr.: Foster, Mr.. ,Shackelford. and others.
1t was said that the committe might
meet during the afternoon. Tho pur-
pose OF the meeting Will be to frame n
resolution that will voice the sentiment
of the House regarding the armed mer-
chantmen controversy. but whether that
resolution will be one similar to that
offered by Mr.. McLemore, or simple
expression OF confidence In the Presi-
dents handling OF the situation was
not forecast.