The midland journal., 1917-02-16
u S. SENATE
APPROVES BREAK
OnIy5 Votes Against Expression
of Confidence in President.
HOPE OF AvERTING WAR
Underwood Deprecates Introduction
Of Declaration But Votes
For lt-Party Lines
ignored.

Washington. = President Wilson's
severance of diplomatic relations with
Germany was approved formally by
the Senate.
By vote of 78 to the Senate ex-
pressed confidence in the Presidents
course, adopting a resolution sub
mitted by Chairman Stone, of the
Foreign Relations Committee, indors-
ing the withdrawal of American Am
bassador Gerard from Berlin and the
giving TO German Ambassador Won
Bernstorff of his passports.
Five hours of debate preceded the
vote, but the only active opposition
came from the five Senators who stood
out against the resolution when the
roll was called. The ranking Republi-
can leaders joined the Democrats in
declaring their whole-hearted support
of the President.
Text OF Resolution Given.
The text of the resolution is as fol-
lows:
Whereas the President has, for the
reasons stated in his address delivered
to the Congress in joint session on
February 8, 1917, severed diplomatic
relations with the Imperial German
Government by the recall of the
American Ambassador at Berlin and
by handing his passports to the Ger
man Ambassador at Washington; and
Whereas, Notwithstanding this sew
erance of diplomatic intercourse, the
President has expressed his desire to
avoid conflict with the Imperial Ger
man Government; and
Whereas, the President declared in
this said address that if in his judg-
ment an occasion should arise for
further action in the premises on the
part of the Government of the United
States, he would submit the matter to
the Congress and ask the authority OF
Congress to use such measures as he
might deem necessary for protection
of American seamen and people in the
prosecution of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas:
Therefore, be it resolved by the
Senate that the Senate approve the
action taken by the President as set
forth in his address delivered before
the joint session of Congress as stated
above"
AXIS For Endorsement.
"I have presented the resolution" :"
said Senator Stone in bringing the
matter before the Senate, because
think we should let the world know
that we support the President of the
United States whenever, acting within
his constitutional power, he speaks
authoritatively for the country"
Senator Stone began by reading a
cable dispatch from London the day
the President severed relations, which
declared it meant America in the war
on the side of the Entente Allies.
"a great number of articles of this
import" said Senator Stone, "have
been appearing from day to day in the
American press. Whatever may be the
result of the regrettable international
entanglements in which we are now
involved, do not know. But want
to express my conviction and hope
that we will not lose our equilibrium
and be swept off our feet, at least at
the instance of a foreign power or
under the influence of propaganda
put forth for the purpose of exciting
us to war on the side of one of the
belligerents. hope the officials and
people of the United States will void
any partisan speech calculated to
excite passion"