Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-03
Warning Resolution Will Be Killed When Comes Up Before the Senate To-day

marine would be considered sufficient
cause for war.
Il introduced my resolution because
was apprehensive We were heading
toward war;" said he. MY act was
based on report which seemed to
me to come from the highest author
ity that certain senators and members
of the House in a conference with the
President received from him the inti-
nation If not the declaration that if
Germany insisted on her position the
United States would insist upon hers
and that this would result. proba bly,.
in a breach Of diplomatic relations and
that a breach Of diplomatic relations
would probably be followed by a
state of war. and that a state of war
might not be an evil; might not be
ungratefuI, might end the war by
mid summer and thus might render a
great service to civilization. l can
not certify to the truth Of the report
tell the tale as il was told to me.
| IF the senator from Missouri, the
chairman Of the foreign relations COM
mittee will deny it. that will satisfy
me. If the senator from Indiana says
it is not true / will accept that"
well, in fairness to the President"
said Senator Stone, Il think / should
state that the President never stated to
me or stated in my hearing that he be-
lieved or in any way entertained the
thought that war between the United
States and the central powers would be
/ 6eS ira b1a would rpSN1t in good
or would not be ungrateful"
| 1T is we'll known that the President
has a passion for peace UNEXPECTED
| Senator Kern in tone which indicated
flat denial of Senator Cores charge.
! II. too, have a passion for peace" Sen
ator Gore responded Il do not be-
| lieve all peace is honorable or that all
war is desirable. but I repeat that what
l heard of the reported conversation be-
tween the President and the Senator
from Missouri was believed TO be found
on fact because of the source from
which it came to me-"
! "Made No Such Statement"
4 Senator Stone jumped to his feet a
second time.
THE President of the United States
made no such statement as quoted by
! the senator from okldHOIIid sStHdtoi
! Stone declared emphatical1y. What
ever the President did say is something
! that I do not care TO repeat When
ever ] go to the White House for a
conference with the President. what he
says to me is sacred. I have not re-
peated the conversation | had with the
President
! II made no intimation that TIE sena-
tor from Missouri has repeated TIE con-
| versation." Senator Gore replied.
! when this rumor came to his ears,
demanded Senator James of Kentucky.
why didn't the senator from Oklaho-
ma go to the President and ask if it
We're true.
! The senator from Oklahoma is one
of the Presidents closest friends. Why
did he MOI go to him and ascertain just
what he said? | am sure the President
would have been glad to tell him..
In the first place 7 had no evidence
/ that ] might he taken into the Presl-
dents confidence or that l might re-
ceive his impressions in the matter,
Senator Gore replied. Il acted on
/ what seemed to me to be the facts. i
have only undertaken to telr of the
; report as il came to me. If il be un-
true. everybody must be gratifed.'
AS Senator Gore took his seat there
| was tense silence.
Senator Lodges Support
Senator Lodge said that the Presi-
dent had a right 70 ask for vote
on the precise proposition of warning
Americans inasmuch as the issue had
| hampered his negotiations, so that he
could know whether he could proceed
| with diplomatic negotiations with Con-
gress behind him.
| Il have listened with profound in
terest to what has been said by the
senator from Missouri" said Senator
Lodge. Il thoroughly appreciate the
gravity of the situation to which he
| has called attention. | agree entire
ly with him that this is not a party
question. ! also agree that our first
duty is to dispose of the precise is
sue that has been raised by the dis
cussion to which he has referred
Il think the President hampered,
as he tells US in the letter to Repre-
sentative Pou. in his diplomatic neso-
tiations, has a right to ask for vote
on the precise proposition, in order
that he may know whether scan go
on with his negotiations with Congress
behind him or whether Congress takes
the view of the belliserent power with
| which he is negotiating.
One mistake. I think. the senator
from Missouri has made. When he
says that this question is confined to
an issue between Great Britain and
Germany | wish to say that every
! Italian ship that comes into our port
of New York is armed. every French
merchantmen is carrying a defensive
armament-if l am correctly inform
ed said Mr.. Lodge.
Il did say exactly what he has
stated" Senator Stone interrupted,
but l was not unconscious of course
that other powers are involved. l said