Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-05
Until !
FACTS ARE KNOWN
President Wilson's Attitude
on Sinking Of Steamer
Persia
GETS INFORMATION
Executive Assures Chairman Flood
That He Will Transmit to Congress
All Facts Obtained.

Washington, Jan. D. = Preslden
Wilson and Secretary of State Ian
sing went into conference at II O'Clock
at the White House today on the Per
sia case, and on the entire question
of submarine warfare.
important developments with re-
ference to plans of the United States
to fix responsibility for the Persia
disaster and to exact pledges from
all the allies of the central powers To
observe the principles of submarine
warfare insisted upon by the United
States. are expected to follow.
Secretary Lansing will place he
fore the President all the dispatches
hearing on the Persia case. lie VIII
also outline his conversations with
Ambassador Won Bernstorff and Bar
on Zwiednek, the Austrian charge
ON submarine negotiations.
Washington. Jan. 5-There mas
been no lessening Of the tension III
The new submarine crisis with Prcsl-
dent Wilson's return TO the Whi'e
House to take personal charge OF the
situation, but there are marked maj
cations of the Presidents intention
TO proceed carefully and deliberately
before committing the United states
to the next step in its already stfalh-
ed relations with the Teutonic powers.
At the State Department the h"i>e
I, exprcssed that there VIII he op
nortunity to settle the crisis ami
cably, and it is stated that the Amer
lean Government believes that Aus
tria's assurances in the last Ancona
note were given in good faith.
Two points, it is emphasized, must
he cleared up before the next move Is
made. 1t must be established whether
The British liner Persia actually was
torpedoed, and if 50. what was the ma
tionality of the submarine.
Secretary Lansing has ordered the
consuls at Alexandria, Malta and "a
iro to obtain afIidavits and at once
cable summaries of their contents
Until that information IS received oi
Penfeld reports some re-
suits from his inquiry to the Aus
trian Government, the. situation, so
far as can be seen, will hc ut q stand
still.
Meanwhile. however. there is discus
sion of what steps the United States
may take to make clear to the Cen
h.al Power belligcrents rs allies tho
extent to which it expect to hold them
responsible for submarine operations
in violation of international law, be
they conducted by Germans. Austrians
Turks or Bulgars.
Austria's plea that she knew moth
ing officially of the outcome OF the
submarine controversy with Germany
is recalled by one set Of officials, who
favor taking action which might fore
stall a similar plea by the other allies
when the United States has finished
with Austria. Something definite
along that line probably will be de,
veloped soon.
The latest developments of the
crisis for the first time brought tho
President into conference with the
heads of the Congressional commit
tees which deal with foreign relations
and disclosed that they are to be III
formed of the coming steps. Approba
tion of this course was expressed bI
Senators and Representatives, who
all along have hcen wanting to bt
taken into the Presidents confidence
without the formaity of resolutions
It was indicated as possible tha
before any drastic step was taken th'
President might address Congress II
person. laying bare all the facts AM
the steps in the long controversy.
1t was Indicated at the State De
nartment that the fact that the Per
sia had gun aboard when she wen
down might be an important featur'
in the case and that: future develop
ments possibly might warrant tn
United States in advising American
citizens not to travel aboard armet