The sun., 1917-03-07
Feels Armed Ship Bill May
Go Through if He
Tries Again.
PRESIDENT CONSULTS
LANSING AND DANIELS
Weight of Opinion Inclines
Strongly to Executives
Power to Act.
PLANS FOR CABINET
MEETING CALLED OFF
Day Ends With No Prospect
Of Early Action on
Aiming Vessels.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-President
Wilson expressed in forceful language
his disappointment over the Senate's
failure to pass his armed neutrality bill
and discussed at length his conception
OF the underlying basis OF permanent
peace in an informal talk to-day at
White House luncheon to the members
Of the Democratic National Committee.
The President declared he was mad"
over the attitude Of the little group of
| Senators who held up the armed neu-
trality bill and indicated that he hoped
! for better results II he tried again to
secure its passage. The present, he said,
is no time for partisan or factional
! consideration In International affairs.
because the need that America prove
united in efforts to safeguard her inter-
ests Is imperative. He decried bitter
ness in public discussions of the situa-
| tion.
! The underlying principles OF democ.
! racy were declared by Mr.. Wilson as the
/ only principles on which governments
can endure and on which permanent
world peace can be maintained. He said
| the consent Of the governed must be be-
! hind governments.
The President referred to the condi-
, ton OF Alsace- Lorraine as typical Of
causes OF war which must be avoided II
permanent peace Is to be achieved. Re-
! iterating his hope that the United States
will play a part in building UP a struc-
ture for the maintenance Of permanent
peace after the present war. he declared
that such a peace can be founded only
on just principles meeting the aspira-
tions of the people of the world.
No stenographer was present during
the Presidents speech and its text was
not made public.
Barrier Ia surmountable.
Mr.. Wilson learned definitely to-day
that the legal barrier against the armng
of American merchant ships is not insur-
mountabe. The question of whether or
not he has this power the President now
| feels is at least debatable one.
He also knows that he can proceed
with his policy of defending American
rights on the high seas with the full sup
port of Secretary Lansing and other
leading legal authorities in case he
wishes to do so. The situation has now
arparently reverted to the original prop
osition of whether or not this Govern
ment Is ready 20 act.
The legal difficulties Of which the
President spoke after the adjournment
of Congress were presumably smoothed
over following a conference TINS atter-
noon at the state Department between
the President and Secretary Lansing.
Prior to this 1t was stated at the White
House that the President had obtained
favorable opinions along the same line
and that "A statement might be forth
coming before night. The best leIa
brains of the Government are under
stood to have been divided on the sub
iect. but the preponderance of legal opin'
ion gives the President the power ht
sought. Anyway the legal situation hat
resolved itself into such shape that tho
Presidents policy in the matter can. II
is said, be made the governing factor.
Several Courscs Suggested.
Several courses have been suggested
, which permit the Government to act
without being unduly hampered by the
antiouated statute OF 1919. cited in the
senate as prohibiting the arming OF
merchantmen for action against armed
nublic vessels OF nations in amity will
the United states. No details are forth
, coming as to the legal arguments ad
vanced.
II was made clear, however. that Sec
retary Lansing already knew or thi'
statute when he advised the Presiden
that he did have the power to arm mer
chantmen. In fact Secretary Lansing
following his conference with the Pres
dent. said that he had known OF thi
statute before the President severed
diplomatic relations with Germany.
y 1t has always been assumed that |
was on Mr.. Lansings advice that th
. President informed Congress at tina
n time that he believed he had the neces
e .ar,, authority While Mr. Lansin,