New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-25
Congress Entitled to Know
Full Situation, lie
Says.
MEMBERS OF BOTH
HOUSES DISTURBED
Will Strive to Prevent Any En-
barrassment of Negotia-
tons, He Asserts.

Washington. Feb. 24.-The letter
from Senator Stone. which brougn.
forth President Wilson's statement OF
his position. follows:
Dear MIR. President; Since Senator
Kern. Mr.. Flood and talked WIN
YOU on Monday evening ] am more
troubled than / have been for many a
dav. have not felt authorized TO
reneat our conversation, but ! have
attempted, in response to numerous
inquiries from my colleagues. to state
TO them, within the confidence thaV
they should observe, my general I'M
Outstanding of your attitude. | have
stated my understanding of your atti-
tude to be substantially as follows;
THAT while you would deeply regret
the rejection by Great Britain Of Mr..
Lansing's proposal for the disarmament
of merchant vessels of the Allies with
the understanding that Germany and
her allies would not fire upon a mer-
chant ship if she hauled TO when sum
moned, not attempting to escape. and
that the Geramn warships would only
exercise the admitted right OF vista
ton and capture, and would not destroy
the captured ship except in circum-
stances that reasonably assured the
safety of passengers and crew, you
were of the opinion that if Great Brit
ain and her allies rejected the pro
posal and insisted upon armlng 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 arc not favora0ly
disposed TO the idea Of this govern.
ment taking any definite steps toward
preventing American citizens from en-
barking upon armed merchant vessels.
Furthermore. that you would consider
il your duty, If a German warship
should fire upon an armed merchant
vessel Of the enemy upon which Amer
can citizens were passengers, TO hold
Geramny to strict account.
Numerous members Of the Senate
and the House have called 20 discuss
this subject with me. have felt that
the members OF the two houses who
are 20 deal with this grave question
were entitled 20 know the situation
we are confronting as ! understand
IL TO be. think ! should say 70 you
that the members OF both houses feel
deeply concerned and disturbed by
what they read and hear. have heard
of some talk TO the effect that some
are saying that, after all, II may be
possible that the programme OF pre-
parednegs, so called, has some relation
TO Just such situation as we are now
called upon 20 meet have coun-
sellcd all WHO have talked with me 10
keen cool, that this whole business 10
still the subject OF diplomacy and that
you are striving TO the utmost to bring
about some peaceablc adjustment, and
that in the meantime Congress should
be careful not TO ball up dlplo-
matte situation by any kind of hasty
and ill-considered action. However,
the situation in Congress is such as TO
excite a sense Of deep concern in the
minds e careful and thoughtful men.
] have felt that 1t 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
10 radically disagree with you, | find
it difficult for my sense Of duty and
responsibility to consent to plunge this
nation into the vortex Of this world
war because of the unreasonable OBJ
/ stinacv Of any of the powers upon the
one hand. or. On the other hand, OF
/ foolhardiness, amounting 70 a sort Of
moral treason against the Republic, Of
our people recklessly risklng their
/ lives on armed belligerent ships. !
cannot escape the conviction that such
would be so monstrous as TO be indie
/ feasible.
81 want to be with you and to stand
by YOU, and ! want 10 talk with you
and Secretary Lansing with the utmost
/ frankness-to confer with you and
have your judgment and counsel-and
want to be kept advised as TO the
course of events, as 1t seems TO me
am entitled TO be.
in the meantime, ! am striving Il
prevent anything being done By any
Senator or member calculated TO en-
barrass your diplomatic negotiations
Up TO the last, you should be left free
TO act automatically, as you think fol
the best 10 settle the questions in
volved. | need hardly say that m!
wish is to help, not 10 hinder, you.
with the highest regard and mos
honor. Mr.. President, 20 be very sin
CSignedJ OWN. J. STONE"