The Washington times., 1916-02-25
WILSON ENMOVED
At CONFERENCE
Insists There Shall Be No Com
promise on Honor Of the
Nation.
tcontlnued from FIrst PAGE.

Continued from First Page)
eminent OF the people and not Of indi-
viduals: that Il is contrary to the pur-
poses OF the Government that war be
made by the decision OF any one man:
i that Congress- has the power TO declare
war and that declaration OF war should
be the sober Judgment and decision OF
the people, that mo one man is the
that the people OF this country are not
seeking war which may be brought
a1out by the arbitrary act of the Chief
sense Of the Senate that any issue pur-
porting to AFFECT the national honor be
referred to Congress and that there be
no ultimatum or severing of diplomatic
Shs ssnstnr ws,n1St s.nDs rel reference to COngress
seemed likely to stir up discussion OF
the Gore resolution when he asked
whether Il was the request OF Senator
Gore that the resolution be referred to
the Foreign Relations Committee.
under the rules" said Senator Gore.
Under the rules the resolution should
f,natc ie studied for moment
SH1 't-r wed the resolution to go
r Jones offered his reso-
wy Pc that IL lie on the table.
90 u leen read Senator Stone
.9eases lie on the table"
,.or. a.. Was WAS the request of the, Senator
on the table" said the Vice President.
Executive Session.
This ended the suspense for the time
being. Soon afterwards the Senate went
into executive session on the confirma-
tion of Ambassador Fletcher.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
ranking Republican member on the
Foreign Relations Committee, came uot
with a statement in which after quot
ing from parts OF the letter of the
President to Senator Stone he said that
the Presidents position coincided with
the views he had expressed in recent
"of course, shall stand by him."
Senator Lodge said. II agree fully
with what he says. l believe II would
to ten our citizens that they must
not exercise their undoubted rights and
that IL they do we shall not protect
them. A nation which will not pro-
and IL democracy fails to protect itself
how can we hope to live!''
Gage of Battle.
The President last night picked up the
gage of battle thrown down by the
House Of Representatives.
In letter ringing with determination.
ne Inhue CltdT lndI Wnlle ne WOulu pre-
serve peace with Germany and Austria,
II possible. and he believed It to be
more than possible-indeed, wholly prob
able>-yet he would not surrender the in
alienable rights of American citizens to
traverse the high seas.
This ringing letter was written to Sem
ator Stone, chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations. and given to the
press by the White House late yester-
day.
The President received q note from
Senator Stone setting forth the critical
aspect Of affairs In Congress with re-
spect to the armed merchantmen ques-
In his response. rhrased in sem
tences with q thrill to them. the Presi-
dent placed national honor above politi-
cal OF any ether eNpediency, and de-
clared that he Intended to insist that
the rights OF Americans on the high
secs be preserved without abrldgment
The Presidents letter leaves no doubt
that he would take the
national which makes the high
seas free and assures safetv for the
lives of noncombatants At the hands
OF belligerents. lie is willing to wage
tives, no matter what Its effect may be
upon his political fortunes.
Ultimatum To Germany.
But more important. the Presidents s
letter to Senator Stone is virtually an
ultimatum to the governments OF Ger
many and Austria that thev must not
carry out their armed merchantmen or
der at the expense of the lives of
American citizens.
For my own part" declared Presi-
dent Wilson to Senator Stone, IT can
not consent to any abrdgement of the
rights of American citizens in any re-
spect. The honor and self-respect of
the nation Is involved. We court peace
and shall preserve It at any cost. but
the loss of honor. To forbid our people
to exercise their rights for fear we
might be called upon to vindicate them
would be a deep humiliation indeed"
In his letter the President expresses
confidence that he will continue to sue
ceed In his efforts to keep the nation
out OF war