Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-01-06
WILSON READY TO
BREAK RELATIONS
ON U.BOAT ISSUE?
President Waiting Full Facts
to Support Any Move He
May Deem Necessary In
Submarine Matter.
HE QUESTIONS GOOD FAITH
Persia Affair Only eliminating
Incident Which May Lead
to Clash With Teu-
tonic Powers.


embassy here has received report
saying that the Rev. Homer r.
salisbury, an American, was a pas
senser on the Peninsular & Orien-
tal liner, Persia, which was sunk
IN the Mediterranean, but that he
was not included among the sur
VivCrS.
The Rev. Salisbury's home was at
l, Iakoma Park. Wash. He boarded
the steamship Persia at MarseilIes.
going to join his wife, who is a
missionary in India.
me Peninsular & Oriental
nlealnshlp company confirms the
report that Mr.. Salisbury em-
parked on the vessel at Marseilles.
washington. Jan. 6.-Not specifically
the case of the liner Persia, but the
cohtinued sinking of unarmed passen-
ger liners by Austrian and German
submarines. probably will be made the
OASIS of the next representations by
the United States on the subject of
submarine warfare. The administra-
ton feels that Germany and Austria
are not keeping faith. despite their ra-
lterated promises to sink no more ships
without warning, or giving the passen-
gers rs and crew opportunity to escape.
.. l,tis3. ntie a3dmln1stration n, is proceeding
it,' Giau.iously .,y because there is possible
ity that the sinking of the Persia nav
nave been justified, owing to the pres.
ence OF a mounted cannon. or II nav
'nnsslbiX have beer an atcfdent. dtSe
to striking mine.
Lansing Favors Break.
sack OF this waiting attitude, how
eyer eyer OFFICIALS say there is no inten-
mon OF ,.,: acting any the less firmly and
promptly if the facts warrant it. Ad.
Slsers s, OF the president. among them
secretary Lansing, are said to have
lold him that it is time to break with
Doth Germany and Austria, Informing
them that this government cannot
inainlalh ,,ls further relations with them
unless there is final definite under-
standing that there will be no more
Wanton submarine slaughter.
Ihere is no minimizing the critical
si'uhtlon, which is regarded as nearest
the breaking point since the Lusitania
was WIS SUNK. The government wants to
make sure that its next step will nut
IT in position to maintain the prin-
ciples of international law and human
ltN, and to that end it desires to de-
ve!op all the facts so that, when a move
Is made, the governments position will
low.
Gun May Not Alter Case.
1t was indicated today at the state
department that the fact that the
Persia had gun aboard when it went
down might be an important feature in
the case, and that future developments
possibly might warrant the United
States in advising American citizens
not to travel aboard armed merchant
ships. even though they are armed for
defense only.
Secretary Lansing is of the opinion
that much depends upon what use, il
my. was made of the Persia's gun.
There vas an intimation that should
il be established that the Persia was
torpedoed by an Austrian submarine.
he United States might decide that IL
30 attempt We're made to use the gun
he act was without justification. II.
however, it should be shown that the
rev attempted to use or did use the
,un, the United States might consider
hat the commander of the submarine
lad right to torpedo the vessel.
The belief prevails in Washington
hat the submarines now being em-
aloyed in the Mediterranean are the
launted the North sea. Only the flags
and uniforms of the men, it is believed,
cave been changed.
President Wilson conferred with
Secretary Lansing for an hour today
over the submarine crisis.
20 over EVIDENCE.
No additional facts beyond the def
mite knowledge that only two Ameri-
cans were aboard the liner Persia had
been received by the state department
over night from either Ambassador
Penfield at Vienna, Ambassador Ger
ard at Berlin. or American consular
agents along the shores of the Medt-
terranean.
Such information as had already been
received, however. was carefully re-
viewed by both the president and Mr..
Lansing.
Official dispatches received today
from the American consul at Marseilles
established that only one American Is
among the missing passengers-Rob-
ert n. McNeeley, newly appointed
American consul at Aden. Charles H.
Grant the other American passenger.
was rescued.
Senator Stone. chairman of the for
eign relations committee, will confer
late today with administration leaders
to determine when the committee
should be called to consider interna-
tional problems confronting the coun-
try. Mr.. Stone said he would like to
have the committee meet tomorrow.
In the Senate discussion of the for
eign situation did not develop. Sen
ator Falls resolution calling upon
President Wilson to inform the Senate
regarding the character of the govern
ment in Mexico which the United
States has recognized was permitted
~ 4.