New-York tribune., 1916-02-27
Congress To Be Held
in Line Until Ger
many Acts.
U-BOAT ATTACKS
MAY BE DELAYED
Italy's Reply to Lansing
Note on Armament
Called Evasive.
Hmm IN. Trihnn. Rufs.n

From Tn. Tribdn. Bureau
Washington, Feb. 26. With the ad-
mission at the State Department that
negotiations with Germany would prob
ably be begun TO determine just what
defensive armament as applied to a
merchantmen. means, the final quiet
ing touch WAS applied to-day to the
fear-crazed insurgency of Congress.
The prospect of another siege Of note
writing. instead Of q real crisis, was
welcomed by members of Congress who
are now thoroughly ashamed OF the
panic of Wednesday and Thursday
This does not mean that all desire has
passed for a surrender OF American
rights. There are still many, probably
n majority in the House. who would
warn Americans of armed liners. But
the pressure for the passage of such a
resolution. at least for the time being,
has passed.
Only three days remain before Ger
man and Austrian submarine command
ers will be instructed to treat armed
merchant ships as war vessels. There
was no indication to- day that issuance
of the order. announced in formal noti-
fcations from the Central Powers for
February 20, would he postponed, 81
though il was admitted that a post
ponement would not come as a sur
prise.
Leaders in both houses Of Congress
who for several days have agitated
passage Of resolution warning Amer
leans not to travel on armed ships
seemed convinced tonight that no such
measure could be put through at pres
ent.
Senator Gore Satisfied.
Senator Gore, who has such reso-
luton pending, issued statement say
ing that while he still favored warn
ing. he believed the objects sought by
his resolution already had been ac-
complished through public discussion.
Representative McLemore, whose warn
ing resolution in the House mas been
, kept from coming up by Administrs-
tion leaders. said he was content TO
wait until the President and Secretary
Lansing had an opportunity to try out
their policy Of asserting the right of
travel in ships bearing arms.
Indicative Of the determination TO
let the President conduct the interna-
tional negotiations unhindered. Sens-
tor Lewis, Of Illinois. to-day drafted a
resolution stating the belief of Con
gress that the President was right in
his present position. and voicing the
confidence Of Congress in him.
Leaders, including Senator Stone,
chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, at once sought Senator
Lewis and prevented the introduction
Of the resolution. They pointed out
that refusal TO pass a resolution
which might embsrrass the Pres y Mt
and the passage of a resolution n Ii
fying stand in which only minority
Of the Presidents own party concurs
were two very different things.
Such resolution, they estimated,
would be voted down two TO one, even
in the Senate. for the Republicans
could not be counted upon to cast a
vote OF confidence in the Presidents
international policy. Besides, such a
resolution, they pointed out, would
raise the question What is the Presi-
dents international policy" and would
lead 10 comparisons which might be
odious.
No Chance for Resolution.
In its effort TO get through the
water power bill, which has consumed
all the time Of the Senate this week
the Senate is recessing from day TO
day, SO that no opportunity is given
for routine business. This precludes
the possibility Of the discussion Of any
of the surrender resolution" nov pend
ing.
Friends Of President Wilson declare
thst he will be as firm with Germany
as he has been with Congress and will
conduct his future negotiations on the
belief that the people of the country
prefer anything. even war. 10 sacri-
fee OF national honor. As with Con
gress, however, he will not force the
fighting. This means that he will let
the Lusitania case rest until the com.
mission OF some overt act by Germany
II. however, a ship is sunk. with loss
OF American lives, the President in
tends TO force an immediate disavowal
or break off relations. He will not be
inclined TO bubble over teehnicslities
Continued on psss ., column =