Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-26
Administration Considers Agi-
tation Undesirable, but Not
Opposed 10 Vote on ResoIu-
tionS in Either House,
DIPLOMATIC SITUATION
PRACTICALLY UNCHANGED
President Wilson Stands Pat
: Receives Support ASsur-
anceS F rom Republicans and
Other Unexpected Sources,
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tsy MORNING JoussAl srrctAL LtAoEn wiaHl
Washington, Feb. 25.-Congrcss
settled down today to await develop
ments in the submarine controversy
between the United States and Ger
many with an overwhelming majority
Of both houses apparently very DEF
initely determined TO take no action
which might embarrass the admins
traion in the present stage of diplo-
matte negotiations. A few of the
more ardent advocates of legislation
| TO keep Americans off armed ships
continued their activities and former
Secretary Bryan's support for them
was shown in the form Of a telegram.
I but even most of them admitted there
was no prospect of immediate action.
| SO far as the administration Is CON
oerned is was settled authoritatively
tonight that while any agitation Of
| the issue just now was undesirable,
! there was no disposition to oppose q
J vote on the pending armed ship res
oIutions if their sponsors tried to force
, one. II was declared that reports
from the capitol during the day
showed conclusively that both the
senate and the house would stand
behind President Wilson in his re-
fusal TO permit any abridgement of
the rights of American citizens on
the seas, as outlined in his letter TO
Senator stone last night.
President Stands Pat.
The president reiterated his state
ments in that letter to Speaker Clark,
Majority Leader Kitchin, and Repres-
cntative Flood. chairman of the house
foreign affairs committee, early in
! the day when they called at the
White House to tell of the situation
on their side of the capitol and hear
the executives views. There was
iplan speaking both by the president
| and his callers. Mr.. Wilson said
plainly that his efforts to keep tho
country at peace were liable to be
hindered BY impressions sent abroad
! by congress and the congressmeA
were equally frank in giving notice
that strong sentiment existed at the
capitol against risking the possibility
of war by permitting Americans TO
travel on armed belligerent ships
whatever might be their rights under
international law.
Although wholly different reports
came from other sources during the
day, Speaker CLARK declared he be-
| ragolttftnY FfiiyHna
off armed vessels would carry in the
house by two to one if it reached q
vote.
The house delegation went back TO
the capitol with word that the pres
idcnt stood unalterably by his POSI-
ton. There the situation rests and
while there probably will be many
more conferences and possibly some
speeches the generally accepted opin-
| ion is that no further serious effort
to bring about action will he made
unless developments occur to make
rupture of relations with Germany
| imminent.
Cabinet With President.
| The cabinet discussed the matter
at length today and one of the sec
retaries said afterwards that the
members stood behind the president
Ito a man.
There was no change in the diplo-
matte status of the situation. The
state department still is awaiting a
response from Germany to its request
| for assurances that the announced
| policy of sinking armed merchantmen
without warning will not affect pre-
vious pledges given regarding the con
duet of submarine warfare. Members
of congress heard during the day OF
intimations that the Teutonic powers
would postpone Inauguration of their
new policy from February 20 to April
or May. No information of this kind
had reached the state department,
however.
senate Concerned.
In spite of the prospect of inaction
there really was more evidence of
concern apparent in the senate today
than before. Many senators conferr-
ed with house leaders and Senator
Stone held open house in his commit
tee room for consultation with his
colleagues. Some told him that they
were opposed TO the presidents pol
icy. while others insisted that con-
gress should stand firmly behind the
administration and frankly asserted