The Tomahawk., 1916-03-02
RIGHT To TRAVEL ON BE[L|GERENT
VESSELS UPHELD BY PRESIDENT
stones LETTER TO PRESIDENT
OUTLINES HIS UNDERSTANDING
OF EXECUTIVES ATTITUDE.
Strives to Prevent Congress from Do
ing Anything to Embarrass Dip
Iomatic Negotiations.

Washington, Feb. 26. - Senator
Stones letter to the president follows:
Dear Mr. President: Since Sena-
tor Kern, Mr.. Flood and I talked with
you on Monday evening, am more
troubled than 1 have been for many
day. I have not felt authorized to
report our conversation, but / have at
tempted, in response to numerous in
quiries from my colleagues, to state to
them, within the confidence that they
should observe, my general under
standing of your attitude. l have stat
ed my understanding of your attitude
to be substantially as follows:
Wilson's Stand Explained.
''That while you would deeply re-
gret the rejection by Great Britain
of Mr. Lansing's proposal for the dis
armament of merchant vessels of the
Allies with the understanding that
Germany and her allies would not fire
upon merchant ship if she hauled to:
when summoned, not attempting to-;
escape, and that the German warships
of visitation and capture and would
not destroy the captured ship except
reasonably assured Of the safety Of
passengers and crew, you we're Of the
opinion that if Great Britain and her
allies rejected the proposal and in
sisted upon arming her nnerchantships
she would be within her rights uno2r
international law. Also that you
would feel disposed to allow armed
vessels to be cleared from our ports:
also that you are not favorably dis
posed to the idea of this government
taking any definite step towards pre-
venting American citizens from en-
barking upon armed merchant vessels.
Furthermore that you would consider
it your duty, if German warship fire
upon an armed merchant vessel of the
enemy upon which American Citizens
were passengers, to hold Germany to
strict account.
Congress Deeply Concerned.
Il think that 1 should say to 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 it may be
possible that the program of prepared
ness, so-called, has some relation to
just such a situation as we are now
called upon to meet. | have coun-
seIled all who have talked with me
to keep cool; that this whole business
is still the subject of diplomacy, and
that you are striving to the utmost
to bring about some peaceabe adjust
ment, and that in the meantime con-
gress should be careful not to bail
up diplomatic situation by any kind
of hasty and ill-considered action.
Defines Personal Attitude.
"However, the situation in congress
is such as to excite 9. sense of deep
concern in the minds of careful and
thoughtful men. I have thought that
it is due to you to say this much. l
think you understand my personal at
titude with respect to this subject. AS
much and as deeply as would hate to
radically disagree with you, ! find it
difficult for my sense of duty and re-
sponsbility to consent to plunge this
nation into the vortex Of this world
war because of the unrea sonable OBJ
stinacy Of any OF the powers on the
one hand, or on the other hand, Of
fooIhardiness, amounting to sort of
moral treason against the republic,
of our people recklessly risking their
lives on armed belIigerent ships.
cannot escape the conviction that such
defensibIe.
Wishes to Help President.
81 want to be with you and to stand
by you, and l mean to do so up to the
last limit, and want to talk with you
and Secretary Lansing with the ut
most frankness-to confer with you
and have your judgment and counsel,
and I want to be kept advised as to
the course of events, as it seems to
me I am entitled to be. In the mean
time am striving to prevent anything
being done by any senator or member
calculated to embarrass your diplo-
matte negotiations. Up to the last
you should be left free to act diplo-
maticaiIy as you think for the best to
settle the question involved. need
hardly say that my wish is to help,
not to hinder you.
With the highest regard and most
sympathetic consideration, [ have the
honor, Mr.. President, 70 be,
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM J. STONE