New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
OverwhelmingVote
Is Virtually Certain
Senate Leaders in Ac-
cord and Action by
End of Week Is
Expected

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Congress
cleared the way to-day for prompt re.
sponse to President Wilson's call for a
declaration Of war on Austria Hun
gary.
A joint resolution approved by the
President and the State Department de-
claring existence of state Of war be-
tween the United States and the I'M
perial and Royal Austro- Hungarian
government from to-day at noon was
introduced in the House and unani-
mously approved by the House Foreign
Affairs Committee. IL will be reported
tomorrow for beginning OF House de-
bate on Friday, with final action in the
Senate late this week or carly next
week probable.
Conforming to the Presidents rec
concentrations, the resolution, which
authorizes and directs employment OF
the nations armed forces against Aus
tria and pledges the country's resources
to victory, applied to Austria alone.
Germany other allies, Turkey and
Bulgaria, are not mentioned
The Resolution
As perfected by the House committee
and ordered reported without a dis
seLting vote, the resolution reads as
follows:
Whereas, the imperial and royal
Austro-Hungarian government has
severed diplomatic relations with the
government of the United States OF
America and has committed acts OF
war against the government ard the
people of the United States OF Amer
lea. among which are its adherence
to the policy OF ruthless .ubmarinc
warfare adopted by it's ally. the i'm
perial German government, with
which the United States of America
is at war, and by giving to its ally
active support and aid on both land
and sea in the prosecution Of war
against the government and people
Of the United States of America;
therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United
States in Congress assembled that
state of war be and is hereby de-
clared to exist and to have existed
since noon Of the 5th day OF De-
h.,
States Of America and the imperial
and royal Austro-Hungarisn govern
ment, and that the President be, and
he is hereby, authorized and directed
TO employ the entire naval and mill
tary forces Of the United States and
the resources Of the government to
carry on war against the imperial
and royal Austro-H Hungarian gov
ernment, and to bring the conflict TO
n successful termination all the re-
sources Of the country arc hereby
pledged by the Congress OF the
United States.
A COPY was transmitted late to-day
10 the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee which will consider II informal
ly tomorrow morning. Chairman
Stone said he expected the committee
to decide its course in time to expe-
dite a report to the Senate when II re-
convenes Friday, but was uncertain
when Senate debate could begin. That
will be decided at to-moTrow's commit
tee meeting. The Senate may on FRI
day begin consideration simultaneously
with the House.
Approval Is Certain
Although sentiment remains strong
in both branches Of Congress 20 hsye
the war declaration extended 10 Turkey
and Bulgaria, approval Of the resolu-
tion as II now stands is regarded as
virtually certain. Reasons given conh-
dentially to-day to Chairmen Stone and
Flood. and which probably will be made
public in debate, were regarded as con-
yincing.
Senator Stone and Representative
Flood both conferred with Secretary
Lansing, and il was understood 10 be
the Secretary's conviction that no cir
cumstance yet warrants action against
Turkey and Bulgaria. Some officials
still are said TO hope that German
dom ination Of her lesser tools yet may
be broken.
The arguments were so persuasive
that in the two-hour deliberations TO-
day Of the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee on the Austrian war resolu-
ton only one member Representative
Miller, Of Minnesota, who recently re-
turned from the Western European
war theatre-voted for his proposal to
include Turkey and Bulgaria in the
resolution. On the final vote he joined
with all others present in approving
the Austrian document.
Expect Big Vote
The principal debate and strongest
demand for addition Of Turkey and
Bulgaria 20 the nations formal foes
is expected in the Senate. oae days
debate is expected TO suffice in the
House. where beginning Of considera-
tion until Friday was postponed only
because many Absent members tels-
graphed to ask brief delay so they
might arrive 70 vote. Passage Of the
resolution by an overwhelming vote
before adjournment OF the House Fri
day Is expected.
Although Senate leaders hope 10 uAex