Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-08
SAYS PRESIDENT WANTS
TO KEEP OUT OF WAR
Senator Stone Sets at Rest Reports
to Contrary, and Explains Post
ponement of Speech.

so far from the President desiring
to involve this country in this dis
astrous European war, his supreme
Senator Stone. chairman of the foreign
relations committee. addressing the
Senate this afternoon. Senator Stone
said that he had had a very frank talk
with the President last night. His
statement today was made in explana-
tion of his determination not to ad-
dress the Senate upon the subject of
armed merchant ships tomorrow as he
had given notice he would do Senator
lows:
Il have notice standing on the cal
endar to the effect that ! would on to-
morrow address the Senate on the sub
ject of armed merchant ships and on
other related subjects
Defers to Colleagues Judgment.
with much care | haye prepared a
speech which purposed to deliver.
There are potent reasons why ! would
be glad TO lay these matured views be-
fore the Senate. But some of my col
leagues in whose Judgment T.have great
confidence, number OF them being
substantially in accord with my views.
have expressed to me their belief that
it would be wiser and better in every
way if | should defer the delivery of
this address for the time being.
Last night l had another yery frank
talk with the PRESIDENT saw frank
talk. for that is the way we talk with
each other. as we should. am sure
that I will not offend II I say that So
far from the President desiring to in
volve this country in this disastrous
European war his supreme wish is to
avoid that calamity.
Il may not be in accord with some
of his views. | have already stated
that on the Senate floor. But it should
be impossible for any senator to he
lieve that the President has SO CHANGED
the at -tude he has so long maintained
as an advocate of peace as to wish now
to make this country a party to this
conflict
Thinks It Against Public Policy.
LAS senators well know. 1 have from
the first been earnestly opposed to having
any Of these questions presented in any
formal way to the Senate and that / have
been equally opposed to any public discus
sion of these questions while they were
the subject of diplomatic negotiation. In
this view | ahve determined that I could
better serve the cause that have at heart
that is the maintenance of peace in this
country-by withholding any expression
of my opinions so long as the Questions
at issue are the legitimate subject of
diplomatic negotiations
~ profoundly hope that no occasion
will arise when | shall feel Obliged
to take these subjects up in a public
way. but IT, perchance. such an oc-
casion should arise / will speak and
act as I think. In the meantime I shall
give the President whatever support /
can in the discharge of those duties
devolved upon him by the Constitution,
IAN through his service as President
I nave co-operated with him and with
all my heart I wish to continue that
cooperation. and so I have concluded
not to say anything at this juncture
that might be misunderstood, espe-
cially in foreign capitals and which
might by any chance contribute to the
difficulties with which the President is
beset. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof