Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-24
ARE IN THE DARK
AS TO SITUATION
Members of Senate and House
Want Accurate Information
on Foreign Situation.
FEAR OF WAR HELD DUE
TO THE LACK OF DATA
Feel They Should Be Informed Just
What President Proposes Should
Be Done in Crisis.

AS viewed today by members OF the
Senate and House. in the light of re-
trospection, the exact status OF the
threatened controversy between Con-
gress and the President on whether
Americans shall be warned to stay OF
armed passenger ships while the adj
ministration is negotiating with Ger
many over the submarine warfare Ques-
ton is as follows:
Many members of the House and
some in the Senate. being considerably
in the dark as to just exactly what
the facts are in the diplomatic negotia-
lions with Germany over the submarine
issue, fear that it would lead to war
If Americans are not kept on armed
merchantmen and il Germany should
actuate the determination to sink arm
ed merchant vessels of belligerents,
whether armed for offense or only for
defense.
Want Accurate Information.
They feel that they should be in
formed Of the exact position so far as
the administration knows 1t; just what
the President proposes should be done
in the crisis. Not fully informed OF
this state of facts, they have seized
upon reported statements attributed to
the President since his conference with
congressional leaders on the subject
Monday night. statements which have
been exaggerated as they progressed
from corridor to corridor and cloak
room to cloakroom in the telling.
Yesterday they were aroused and
alarmed over reports that the Presi-
dent was insistent upon yielding moth
ing to Germany's submarine conten-
oh fo
that the President had declared another
! attack on a ship in which an Ameri-
can lost his life would Immediately re-
suit in severing diplomatic relations
lions unconfirmed by any one who at
tended the White House conference.
All these declarations served te
arouse fears among congressman that
the country was headed directly and
Drecipitately into trouble unless what
they believed to be the policy of the
administration should be tempered with
legislative action which would keep
Americans off armed merchantmen.
Two Conclusions Reached.
In this situation there was a demand
made upon Chairman Flood and members
Of the House foreign affairs committee
for an immediate report on a resolution
Of this character. The committee met
and reached two conclusions. One was
House on the issue and to communicate
it to the President. AS a result of this
Representative Flood this morning talked
over the telephone to the President. sup
plementing a similar conference last
night
He told the President what the COM
mittee had done. reported that the can
vass Of the House had not yet teben
| made, and asserted further that the
proposed warning resolution had not
yet been acted upon by the committee
and probably would not be imme-
diately To inquiries Chairman Flood
said he believed the situation had
| ing stage.
DemoAratic members of the foreign
affairs committee. in agreeing to can
vass the situation in the House, let II
| be known that 1t was the concensus OF
| opinion among them that the issue OF
Americans travelling on armed ships
| was technical one and not vital
enough to go to war over. Believing
| jority of the democratic members OF
| the House were Of the same opinion.
Further Check to Excitement.
| Little opportunity for the issue to &c,
on the floor of either house was pre-.
scented today. and this. in the opinion
of administration leaders. would serve
to further check the excitement tina,
has arisen in the Congress.
In the House the proposed resolution
cannot come up unless the committee
on foreign affairs should report 1t
! That such action would not be taken
| was certain. 1t might be possible for
some one to stir up an argument over
| seemed unlikely.
Representative Foster OF Illinois has
prepared another resolution which he
substitute for the McLemore warning
resolution already before the commit
tee. Today Representative Shackle-
ford Of Missouri. member Of the for
canvassing members Of the House and
the opinion gathered from several con-
| ferences was that those who favor
i Lac Ialo hal IND