The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-25
To Warn Citizens OFF
Armed Ships Would HUI
initiate Nation.
STILL Is HOPEFUL OF
MAINTAINING PEACE
Presidents Failure to See
House Leaders Anglers
Congress.
THREAT TO GO OVER
HIS HEAD REPEATED
Germany May Put Off u
Boat Campaign. WASH
ingtOn Hears.

| WA,nlNuToN, Feb. - President
Wilson has uttered a clear cali to the
country 20 support him against the ef-
| fort that is being made in Congress to
| abrldge the rights Of Americans to
| travel the high seas.
| The President declares that such y
| yielding as is now proposed by the
! leaders OF the revolt in Congress will
amount to conceding the impotcncy"
| Of this nation and of surrendering the
independent position Of the United
States among the Governments of the
| world.
President Wilson set forth these re-
markably strong sentiments IN "A letter
to Senator Stone, chairman of the
! senate Foreign Relations Committee.
which was made public to- night. This
/ letter breathcs deep determination
on the part of the President to stand
unalterably for every right now pos
sessed by an American citizen. and in
It's trmness surpasses even the most
exaggerated accounts Of the Presi-
dents attitude a. outlined by him 10
leaders Of Congress AZ the recent
Waite House reception.
Hopeful OF Peace.
Al The same time the letter >uows
that the President Is stll hopeful of
obtaining an amiCahle settlement oi
the submarine controversy and thi.
he is confident Of his ability 10 keep
the country out of war.
In the communication he serves no.
tiCc ON Congress that he viii refuse
to consent to the aprdgment OF A
single right now possessed hy Amer
lean citizens.
We Covet peace ana shall preserve
It at any cost but the loss of honor"
was one Of the impresSiv" sentences
in the Wilson letter.
The cS.d"nt declares that for the
United States to yield TO an abridg-
ment of the rights Of its citizens as
regards armed merchantmen would be
humiliation and would amount 10
An aouu!rsc' IN a violation of the
rights OF all mankind. He declares
further that such action would make
everything that this Government has
attempted ana achieved meaning
less"
The President predicts that If a sur
render is made Of the right to travel
on armed merchantmen II viii be but
the beginning OF humilia,ions for the
United states and Will threaten the
fabric OF International law through
out the word.
Confidence in G,-man,
The President takes occasion in this
letter To 'Aprc~S 'Or tn" first time his
c"uild'no" IN the good ioith and fidelity
of tn" German Government IN regard
To III" promises already made
\ letter that senator Stone wrote 20
the President, which also was given out
Tonight. disclosrs that III. President
told the Congress leaders that Ne was
prepared Ia hold Germany strictly ac-
COuutablc" If one Of her submarines
sank an armed liner without warning
ana with tn" saCrifc" Of American III.
This ~ tn" statement which members
OF Congress construed 10 mean that the
President waS ready 10 go To war IL
necessary in defence OF the rights OF
American citizens to travel on armed
merchant vessels.
TIE making public Of The c>ldrnts
letter to senator stone came ds the
climax 10 another day which Nud seen
Congress ana growing determination
among I'ruo'-,uc lendcr- iu The Hpus,
10 put through gs'aiion warning
Americans from l"lIlsrrcu' uucrs re-.
gtrdless oi the Presidents opposjtinr
tn. revolt II the House continued in
give svdtuo" of It's strrngth. uotN,th-
standing thc 'act that issuyuucr, wo'r
conveyed hN the Adm'ulstrat .uu that 'hc
situation w!tn t;crnHuy mad 'u, 10. ra '
y both secretary l.tusIug and p'npi mcm.
, Nors nc The CABINET We, commanded
y les the President 10 e." ,rN these aS.