New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-02
Must Vote Direct on
His Sea Policy,
He Declares.
HALTS GERMAN
NEGOTIATIONS
Issue Forced After Day of
TurmOiI-LOWcr House
Divided.

From The Trioun, Rurs,v
Washington, March Congress
will meet tomorrow facing clear
cut issue with the President. Mr.
Wilson demands a test vote on ;he
resolutions yielding American rights.
Congress wants TO eyade the issue
and merely vote confidence in the
President.
i The President served notice on
Congress tonight that he would con
sent TO nothing less than "A record
vote on the anti-Administration res
olutions TO warn Americans on
armed ships Of European belliger-
ents before he goes OF with the Ger
man submarine negotiations.
The President does not ask CT
even desire vote of confidence IN
his foreign policy. Although gerer-
ally impatient of the criticism that
has been heapeG on his handling of
the issues with Germany. he realizes
that resolution Of confidence would
bring in political considerations. He
insists that the question be put 70
p Congress in such n way that the
lineup viii be on purely patriotic
grounds. and that party lines will be
J obliteratcd.
Climax To Day Of Confusion.
President Wilson made his posi-
ton clear 10 Congressional leaders
tonight in unequivocal terms a. the
climax to day Of confusion, urscr-
tainty and political manPuvrlng
that marked the opening Of his hrst
real fight with Congress
As II 70 emphasize that tho Prosidon.
absolutely refuses 20 continue the n,.
gotiations with Germany until the A.
titude OF Congress is settled. II was
made known that the United States
does not consider the latest assurances
from Count Won BernstorF. the German
Ambassador. as broad or as satisfactory
AZ those originally given. No further
step will be taken, however. while t1a)
President waits on Congress. MeH-
while the pending Lusitania agrce1e
will not be finally accepted.
Letters and kilograms from NJ parts
Of the country have convinced Dir. vii
son that his is the popular seic Of tho
controversy, and that regardless Of tho
widespread belief that Americans
should stay OF belligercnt ships, par
ticularly when they are armed, the peo-
ple do not favor interference By Con-
gress with the Presidents negotiations.
Squarely put, the issue is between
honor and covardice. The President be-
lieves the country 80 understands !,
and that Congress cannot oyade that
view OF II.
Opposed 10 tompromlse.
The principal fear al the "hite
House is that compromise. among the
factions in Congress will lead 70 the
Introduction Of resolution in which
tho real issue will be obscured. The
presiden. believes, bowever, that -
ioritv Of the Rules Committee, VIII
Will have the last word on the propo
resolution, is with him. and that
resolution not satisfactory 20 him
be reported out.
Administration leader. in Cong
however. know tonight that the T
den. has a hght on his hands IN
...tonp, % force a showing Of siren
in tho House A. two-hour eIecudoe
meeting Of the Foreign Affairs Com
n,it.ee Only four members were found
70 stand b. the President in his view
Of tho submarine controversy. Ihess
we're Chairman Flood and Representa-
tives Smith. - New York; Harrison,
F Of Mississippi, and Goodwin. OF Ar-
kansas. Even Of these. Mr.. Goodwin -
not certain 20 stick with the President.
Instead OF voting out the MeLemors
resolution. in accordance with the re
quest Of the President. the Foreign
AFa,rs Committee adopted dila'ory
policv with the oyrresscd intention OF
preventing emily action. Practically
, the entire committee, regardless oil
party affiliations and convictions on
The submarine question, ia playing for
time in the hope that the tension will
lessen and the affair blow over. a
vote in the House is not expected be-
fore late Friday at the best.
Anxious to Avoid an Issue.
nrorcsentative Flood. .he chairman.
( ir to call on the President again to-
morrow 20 acquain. him with the fae'
that the members are snxious TO avoid