The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-02-25
FEARS EMBARRASSMENT IN Me-
QUOTATIONS WITH GERMAN
GOVERNMENT.
SITUATION IS GRAVE
Congress Does Not Take Kindly To
The Warning Of American
Citizens.

washington, req. zo.-ABltdtiOn
in Congress for action warning Amer
leans off armed ships of the Europe
an belligerents suddenly grew to
such proportions today that the DEM
ocrats of the Foreign Affairs Commit
tee voted to canvass the sentiment of
the House on several pending res
olutions of that nature.
Sentiment in the Senate in favor
of some such action also was openly
expressed, but at the end of day of
surprises, tention and agitation the
word came that President Wilson still
was unalterably opposed to any such
action by Congress and believed that
he would only be embarrassed there
by in negotiations with Germany.
To widely circulated suggestions
that the situation had reached point
where the President soon would lay
II before Congress. that Secretary
Lansing might in some way define
the attitude of the Government In a
to Senator Stone,
and that a time had been fixed with
in which the United States would
expect Germany to signify her inten-
ton to abandon the announced in
tention to sink armed merchant ships
without warning, the uniform state
ment was made officially that moth
ing had been determined upon, that
the situation, though grave, still was
a waiting one, and that no final posi-
ton would be announced until Ber-
lin was heard from.
While confronted with the posi-
bility of congressional interference
with all its grave aspects. ranging
from a detection from the American
policy to downright. Embarrassment
OF the President and the Secretary of
State. the leaders were confident they
would control the situation and leave
the executive branch of the Govern
ment free to carry on diplomatic ne
gotiations with Germany.
r At no time did the question come
out openly on the floor of either the
House or the Senate, but about a
score of Congressman who announc-
ed they were In favor Of warning
Americans even II 1t involved a re-
pudiation of the Administration pol
icy II thereby they thought war
would be averted kept both houses
in state of tension that practically
blocked business.
All the demonstration was in the
Democratic ranks and there was no
open show of sentiment among the
Republicans. 1t was indicated, how
ever, that Republican Leader Mann
sympathized with President Wilson's
policy and that any outbreak would
have to reckon with his forces.
From apparently authentic sources
came statements tonight that the
President was determined that the
dispute pending with Germany be
settled without prolonged negotia-
tions. He is known to believe, how
ever, that the breaking off of diplo-
matte relations with Germany means
war. and there will be no undue
haste in handling the situation in
volving such, a possibility.
The Administrator view is that q
broad and important principle is in
volved in the right of Americans to
travel on belligerent merchantmen,
and that this right must not be aban-
doned.
DEVELOPMENTS are expected mo-
mentarily. Tomorrow may bring
Germany's reply to the request OF
the United States. made last week
through Ambassador Won Bernstorff,
for assurances that the notice of in
tention to sink armed merchantmen
without warning after February 20
does not nullify previous pledges CIV
en- In the Arabic and Lusitania nego-
tiations. Official advices from Ber-
lin have indicated that Germany will
reply that previous assurances will
not be affected. but that they APP
piled only to unarmed ships. and
probably will ask the American Gov
eminent for its definition OF defen-
sive armament which may be sacri-
ficing its peaceful character.