Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-23
RESIDENT LAYS
MATTER SQUARELY
BEFORE CONGRESS
Asks Counsel as to Whether
We Shall Depart From
Policy Of Isolation.
THINKS TIME HAS COME
TO DEFINE OUR POSITION
Speech in Senate Leaves Off
! cial Quarters and Diplomats
Amazed and Bewildered.
SHARP DIVISION OF OPINION
No Such History-Making Event Ever
seen in Chamber of Upper
House OF Congress.
THINKS TIME HAS COME
TO DEFINE OUR POSITION
SHARP DIVISION or OPINION

-
the United States shall enter a world
peace league, and as many contend.
thereby abandon it's traditional policy
OF isolation and no cntanclinc alliances
was laid sQuarcly before Congress and
the country to-day by President Will
son in personal address TO the Senatc
For the first time in more than no
years President of tho United state.
appeared III the Senate chamber 10
discuss the nations foreign relations
after tho manner of Washing ton Adams
and Madison. The effect was to leave
Congress. all official quarters and the
foreign diplomats amazed and be-
wildered. Immediately therc arose q
sharp division OF opinion over the pro-
pricty as well as the substance of the
Presidents proposal
startling" "staEGerinC" "astound-
ing, the noblcst utterance that has
fallen from human lips since the Dec
laration OF Independence" were among
the expressions OF Senators. The Pres
ident himself. after his address. said
II have said what everybody has been
longing for, but has thought impossi-
bic. Now II appears to be possible"
While the President was speaking
warded 10 American diplomats in all
the belliserent countries for the in
formation of the Foreign Offices and
were being prepared for representatives
of neutral governments here.
MAY OPEN APPROACH
TO END PRESENT WAR
Back or the fundamental proposal
for some sort OF international sanction
for -
the world. now already accepted in
principle by both sets OF belliserents in
their replies to President Wilson'S
peace note. lies the possibility. which
the President to-day openly expressed.
that thereby may be laid the ground
work upon which an approach may be
made TO an end OF the present conflict.
In public utterances the President
has hitherto expressed the conviction
that the present was the last great
war in which the United States could
be a neutral; that it no longer could
remain in the position of being half
in and half OUT of world affairs.
No such history making event. with
such far reaching possibilities to the
United States, probably ever had been
seen in the Senate chamber. For
nearly a half-hour the President spoke
with members of the Senate. members
OF the Cabinet and packed galleries
listening with rapt attention. When
he concluded the was tremendous
bsrst of applause
VERY IMPORTANT HOUR
IN LIFE OF THE WORLD
when the President had finished and
the Senate returned to its regular
business. Senator La Toilette epitomized
The sentiment OF all present by saying:
we have just passed through a very
important hour in the life OF the
world"
Senators generally reserved comment
on the Presidents address. but some
Republicans. who said they did not
wish 10 b. quoted. declared they were
opposed TO both the propricty and
substance"
Erirny, the President said he believed
that II" peace which was peace uf
victory III the present war would be &
permanent peace, and that II must bo
taken for granted chat peace must he
Followed hy some definite concert OF
power which Will make it virtually
Impossible that any such catns;ruphe
should ever oNerwhcim us again"
1T j. inconccivdblc." he said "lnat
the people of the Cuitcd Stltcs should
play no part IN that great enterprises"
At another point the President said:
NO covenant OF cooperative peace
that docs not Include The peoples Of
thc New World can 81 tiicc TO keep the
future safe against war"
No HHt.,CH TRADITIONS
or polio, AS \ NATION
In hoidins "ut tic expectation that
the United. states would join other na
q