The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-02-25
Opposed to Amy Action in
Congress Warning Ameri-
cans Off Armed Ships
CONFERENCE WITH
HOUSE LEADERS

Latter Said Nothing Would Be Done
Today, But ventured No Predic-
tions for Future-For Peace at Any
Cost Except Loss of Honor.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. : Presi-
dent Wilson iterated his opposition
to any action in congress warning
Americans off armed ships in a con
ference today with Speaker Clark, Ma
iority Leader Kitchin and Chairman
Flood of the house foreign affairs com
mittee and they in turn told the Pres
ident that if such resolution were
brought to a vote at this time it would
be passed by a majority OF two to one
u think the chances are that Germany
will postpone this threatened perform
ance until April /, or at least until the
middle of March, said Speaker Clark
after his conference with President
Wilson.
''There IS 2 rumor to that effect and
a postponement would give us more
time. The President was mistaken in
his position that congress should take
no action embarrassing his contention
that the rights Of Americans on the
seas must be upheld at any cost and
repeated that he had written last night
to Senator Stone. -
The house leaders went away telling
the President nothing would be done
today, bat thev ventured no predictions
for the future. They admitted that the
situation was serious and could not tell
how far the sentiment in congress
would be swayed by the publication of
the President 5 views in his letter to
Senator Stone
When the conference was over
Speaker Clark said: ''We explained to
the President how the house felt. in
our Judgment. Of course there was
great deal of talk about international
law regarding the rights of Americans
on the seas. At the conclusion of the
conference 1t was clear to all that the
President stands on his letter to Sen
ator Stone. >
In his letter to Senator Stone the
President made it clear that he would
90 to war with Germany and Austria
rather than surrender the inalienable
rights Of American citizens to traverse
the high seas
The President placed honor above ex-
pediency, and showed that he was de-
termined upon no halfway measures in
dealing with the situation. That is his
answer to those members of his party
who will call upon him tomorrow and
endeavor to persuade him to yield to
the clamor that international law be
changed to the extent of telling Ameri-
can citizens that they have no right to
travel on merchant ships armed for
defense.
This ringing letter was written to
Senator Stone, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, and given
to the press by the White House late
in the evening. The President received
a note from Senator Stone setting
forth the critical aspect of affairs in
congress with respect TO the armed mer-
chantmen question. In his response,
phrased in sentences with thrill in
them, the President placed national
honor above political or any other ex-
pedieney, and declared that he intend
ed to insist that the rights of Ameri-
cans on the high seas be preserved
without abridgment.
The President S letter leaves no
doubt that he would be willing to 90
to war with Germany and Austria to
uphold that principle of international
law which makes the high seas free and
assures safety for the lives of non
combatants at the hands of belliger-
ents. He is willing to wage war with
| the 11OuSe OI mt representatives. HO mat
ter what its effect may be upon his
! political fortunes, as well as with the
Central Powers, if need be, no matter
what its effect may be upon the future
of the United States.
| But more important, the President s
letter to Senator Stone is virtually an
ultimatum to the governments of Ger
many and Austria that they must not
carry out their armed merchantmen.
order at the expense of the lives of
| American citizens IF they do so the
United States will join in the great
European contest; that is obvious from
what the President tells the chairman
of the senate committee on foreign re-
lations.
81 For my own part declared Presi-
dent Wilson to Senator Stone, 81 can
not consent to any abridgment of the
rights of American citizens in any re-
spect. The honor and self-respect of
the nation is involved. We court peace
and shall preserve it at any cost, but
the loss of honor. To forbid our peo-
pie to exercise their rights for fear we
might be called upon to vindicate them
would be deep humiliation indeed. y
Senator Lodge, ranking Republican
member of the foreign relations com
mittee declared in statement TODAY
that he was in full accord with Pres
lident Wilson s views on the submarine
: issue as expressed in his letter to Sen
ator Stone, and that he would stand
by the President.
, kilograms to congressman from viii
: liam j Bryan supporting the move
. ment for warning Americans off arn,a n