The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-03-03

BIOI Iic ACJOSStoh W HASoS Diieoih "a
Mr.. Lansing's proposal for the dis
armament of merchant vessels Of the
Allies, with the understanding that
Germany and her allies would not fire
upon merchant ship if she hauled to
when summoned, not attempting to
escape, and that the German war
ships would only exercise the admit
ted right of visitations and capture,
and would destroy the captured ship
except only in circumstances that
reasonably assured the safety Of pas
sengers and crew, and were Of the
opinion that if Great Britain and her
allies upon arming her merchant ships,
she would be within her right under
international law. Also that you would
feel disposed to allow armed vessels
to be cleared from our ports; also
that you are not favorably disposed
to the idea of this government taking
any definite steps toward preventing
American citizens Rom embarking
upon armed merchant vessels. Fur
thermore, that you would consider it
your duty, if a German warship should
fire upon an armed merchant vessel
of the enemy upon which American
citizens were passengers, to hold
Germany to strict account.
Numerous members of the Senate
and the House have called to discuss
this subject with me. l have felt that
the members of the two Houses who
are to deal with this grave question
are entitled to know the situation we
are confronting, as / understand it to
be. l think should say to you that
the members of both Houses feel
deeply concerned and disturbed by
what they read and hear.r
81 have heard of some talk on the
effect that some are saying that af-
ter all it may be possible that the
program of preparedness, so-called,
has some relation to such a situation
as we are now called upon to meet.
/ have counseled all who have talked
with me to keep cool; that this whole
business is still the subject of di-
plomacy, and that you are striving to
the utmost to bring about peacable
adjustment, and that in the meantime
Congress should be careful not to
"ball up" a diplomatic situation by
any kind of hasty and ill-considered
action. However, the situation in
Congress is such to excite sense of
deep concern in the minds of careful
and thoughtful men. have felt that
it is due to you to say this much.
81 think you understand my personal
attitude with respect to this subject
AS much and as deeply as would
hate to radically disagree with you,
| find it difficult, from my sense of
duty and responsibility, to consent to
plunge this nation into the vortex of
this world war because of the I'M
reasonable obstinacy of any of the
powers upon the one hand, or, on the
other hand, of foolhardiness amount
ing to sort of moral treason against
the republic, of our people recklessly
rislxing their lives on armed belliger-
ent ships. / cannot escape the con-
viction that such would be so mon
strous as to be indefensible.
II want to be with you and stand
by you, and / mean TO do so up to the
last limit; and l want to talk with you
and Secretary Lansing with the ut
most frankness--to confer with you
and have your judgment and counsel
--and / want to be kept advised as to
the course of events, as it seems to
me l am entitled to be. In the mean
time / am striving to prevent any
thing being done by any Senator or
member calculated to embarrass your
diplomatic negotiations. Up to the
last you should be left free to act dip
lomatically as you think for the best
to settle the questions involved. l
need hardly say that my wish is to
help, not to hinder you.
with the highest regard and the
most sympathetic consideration, 1
have the honor, Mr.. President, to be
Every sincerely yours,
wv. ]. STONE"
To this letter, on February Gath,
Mr.. Wilson made the following reply
to Senator Stones letter, defining
clearly and firmly his position on the
armed ship policy in which he says
rthe honor and self-respect Of the ma
ton is involved" that 1--WE coyet