The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-02-25

Will Be No Immediate Ac-
tion in Congress, But
Leaders Can't Predict
What May Happen Post
ponement of Submarine
Warfare Rumored.
Washington, Feb. 25-Pres-
ident Wilson reiterated his op-
position to any action in Con-
gress warning Americans off
armed ships in a conference
early today with Speaker Clark
Majority Leader Kitchin and
Chairman Flood, of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee.
They in turn told the PRESS
dent that if such a resolutionf
were brought to the vote in the
House at this time it would be
passed by majority Of two to
one.
The President was mistaken
in his position that Congress
should take no action embarz
RAISING his contention that the
rights of Americans on the
seas must be respected at any
cost.
The leaders went away tell
ing the President nothing
would be done today but they
ventured no predictions for
the future They admitted that
the situation was serious and
could not tell yet how far The
sentiment in Congress would
be swayed by the publication
OF the Presidents views in his
letter to Senator Stone.
When the conference was over,
Speaker Clark said there was a. ruTnor
that Germany would postpone the be-,
ginning of the new submarine cam
paign until April, or until the middle
of March. He would not say whether
he got his information from the Pres /
ident
'"The sum and substance of the con- /
ference, speaker =01S1Tk Sa1O5 OuIS4Q0
of an explanation made as to the tenn /
per of the House regarding the dipIo- /
matte situation. with Germany and I
some argument on both sides is fully !
set out in Senator Stones letter to the !
President and the Presidents letter (
to Senator Stone.
I've explained to the President how Z
the ID use felt, in our judgment 1
told the President that this warning
resolution would carry two to one il +
they ever got chance for a vote i
Some enthusiastic gentlemen, I said, 4
thought it would carry three to one.
t|Of course there was great deal /
of talk about international law re- /
garding the rights of Americans on i
the seas and precedents. At the con
clusion of the conference it was very 4
clear to all that President stands on
his letter to Senator Stone.
but there are rumors which were I
discussed that Germany may post
pone enforcement Of the new admir-
atty order to sink armed ships from
March 1, either to April / or the mid
die of March. think the chances
are that Germany will postpone this
threatened performance. This Will
give more time for consideration. OF
this matter IS
Regarding the possibility of action
in Congress in case Germany adheres
to her announcement that the admir-
H
March L, Speaker Clark said it would
be very difficult to get the warning
resolution out of a committee for ac-
ton.
Majority Leader Kitchin and Rep
resentative Flood declined to discuss
what took place at the White House.
They said that Speaker Clark had
been selected to issue all Statements
It is known however, that both OIL
them advised the President that the
sentiment in the House for the reso-
luton was strong.
The President told the House lead
ers he felt-the United States must
stand for the right of Americans to
the freedom of the. seas and that the
honor of the. nation must be protect-
ed at any eventuality. He also told
the leaders the position, of the United
States would be weakened if Con- B
gress took action such as has been
proposed.
Speaker Clark. Mr. Kitchin and
Mr.. Flood left the White House say
ing they believed the situation serf-
Gus.
The President, it was understood.
was very emphatic in his demand that
the rights of Americans be upheld
and that Congress take no action.
AS a result of the conference adj
-linistration leaders in Congress are
expected to exert their strongest In
huence to prevent any action at this
time.
President Wilson spent virtually
he entire morning discussing phases
II the foreign Situation Tn addf-