The Washington herald., 1916-02-23
HOTLY REJECTS SCHEME
Turns Down Proposal Of Par
ty Leaders to Relieve Ad-
minstration Of Risk.
WOULD FORCE GERMANYS HAND
Chief Executive Determined That Der.
lin Acknowledge. Right Of U. S.
Citizens to Travel in Safety.

President Wilson has emphatically re-
jected proposals from members OF his
party in Congress which would relieve
him of the responsibility OF forcing an
issue with Germany over the new Berlin
submarine declaration Such proposals
took the form OF suggested legislation
prohibiting American citizens from trav-
cling on armed merchantmen.
The suggestions were laid before the
President by Chaiunen Stone and Flood.
Of the Senate and House Foreign Affairs
committees. respectively, and by Majority
Leader Kern. Of the Senate, at con-
ference held at the White House on Mon
day night.
The President rejected the proposals
without qualification, and the conferees
came away from the White House with
the understanding that It was Mr.. Will
sons firm intention to insist upon clean
cut settlement of the submarine contro-
versy on the basis Of the present law and
facts in the case.
Members of Congress who yesterday
heard some of the details of the con-
ference declared that the President
A. prepared to insist upon the with
6rawaI by Germany Of her declaration
Of intention to torpedo without warn
ing all armed enemy merchant ships
SITTER March 1.
The President was described as de-
termined that Germany must acknowl-
To travel IN safety on the high seas,
whether the ships they use be un-
armed or armed for defense, bellig-
trent or neutral
Tne PRESIDENT Is said to have shown
Erea. impatience over the delay that
already has occurred in the subma-
rine ne gotiatfons and to have init
mated to the members OF Congress
that the lives Of American citizens
have already been too long In
jeopardy.
Holly spurns Suggestion.
Democrats in the Senate were under
the distinct Impression that the PresI.
dent had just about made up hi,
miLd that the time for parleying was
over ard that there must be definite
understanding between Germany and
the United States in the near future
If friendly diplomatic relations be.
tween tho two countries are to con.
tinue-
The conference at the White House
Monday night. It was learned, wa,
Initiated by Chairman William J
Stone. Of the Senate Foreign Rela
tions Committee. When the President
was informed Of the Senator's Request
for al appointment and learned tha
the Senator wished to discuss with hin
the German situation, he at once de-
cided to call in Senator John W. Kern
Of Indiana, the Senate majority leader
and Chairman Flood, OF the Hous,
Committee On Foreign Affairs
The three Democrats called in a body
They had with them a copy of a Join
resolution introduced in the Senate abou
the first of the year by Senator Gore, o
Oklahoma. prohibiting American citizen
from travelling on belligerent liners. /
was lllehl the NlsllOTs ldlO IN
resolution before the President with tn
suggestion that its passage would reliev
the administration OF the embarrassment
OF taking the position that merchant yes
sells have the right to arm and of Insist
ing on this right in face Of the new Ger
man declaration and in face of the arsu
ments to the contrary which secretar
Lansing laid before the entente powers
The President, 1t is stated. hotly spurr
- ed the suggestion, declaring that the pas
sage Of such a resolution would not onl
be contrary to the intentions of the ad
ministration, but would be regarded b
him as insulting. The conferes are sal
to have been somewhat taken aback b
the heat displayed by the President.