Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-03
Discussion of His Note to
Belligerents Will Be
Resumed To-Day.
REPUBLICANS DEMAND
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION
Subject Of Too Vast Importance
to Permit Hasty
Vote.
THEY MAY pRoLoNG DEBATE
Democrats Say Hesitation Will De-
srrOy Moral Effect Upon
Nations at War.
lRv 4 Associatcd Pres..l

lBy Associated Pres..l
WASHINGTON. January 2.-The en-
tcntc reply. rejecting tho peace pro-
posal of the central powers, was cablcd
by the State Department to-day for
presentation to Germany and tho other
bclligcrcnt governments whose diplo-
matte interests the United States repre-
sents at allied capitals.
1t was nuthoritatively stated during
the day that Prosiden, Wilson had not
decided what, IL amy. further move in
the interest of peace he might make.
but was keeping an open mind on the
subject while waiting for the cntcnte's
answer To his note proposing a discus
sion Of terms by the belligerents. No
official comment WAS Forthcoming on
press reports from Paris. indicating
that the reply to the President In effect
would he tho same as that given tho
central powers.
ACTION Is DELAYED ni
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
~ russion Of III" advisability Of leg
islatir" action approving tho cours"
Of tho President in sending his note
occupied the senate for more than an
hour. and viii hc resumed tomorrow.
Action was delayed hy unanimous con
sent because Republican Senators in
sisted tina, the matter was too inn
portant - be disposed Of hastily. and
should ,c considered by the Foreign
Relations Committee.
Particular interest attached 10 state
ments during the debate by Senator
Stone, chairman Of the Foreign Rcla-
conference yesterday with President
Wilson. In this connection administra
ton officials took pains to make clear
,li7t the President did not seek action
byl Congress. though. Of course. he
vi ju1d not like to SEQ proposal to
W horse his policy defeated
FfThc discussion began when Senator
'htchcock's resolution 10 approve tho
.iotc. introduced just before the holiday
recess, automatically came before the
Senate for consideration. pcmocra,ic
leaders. including Senator stone. urged
that tho resolution should he passed
without delay or prolonged debate. in
order that tho Presidents position
might he given approval by CO.
ordinate branch OF the government
which has authority in international
affairs.
VIGOROUSLY INSIST
THAT MATTER 60 OVER
Senator Lodge. ranking Republican
member 81 the Foreign Relations Com
mittce: Senator Gallinger. the minority
leader; Senator Borah and other Re-
publican Senators vigorously insisted
that Senator Hitchcock consent to let
the matter go TO the Foreign Relations
Committee for careful consideration
They did not oppose the purpose OF the
resolution, but expressed the view that
the proposed action was fraught with
such international Importance that II
should not be acted upon without every
consideration Of all phases of the war
situation. and not until Senate com
mittec had an opportunity TO study the
exchanges of belligerent and neutral
governments which have followed the
original Teutonic note to the entente
allies suggesting discussion Of peace.
There were strong intimations to-
night that the Republicans, will irsist
upon thorough debate IL Senator Hitch
cock PERSISTS tomorrow in his demand
for a vote withoot reference to COM
mittee. Such discussion. it was
pointed out tonight. might lead to
another general debate on the Flu
terized the controversy at the last ses-
sion Of Congress over the right OF
American citizens TO travel on armed
ships OF belligerents
Senator stone declared that the sim
nle question involved in the issue was
whether the Senate should indorse a
movement calculated to open the way
for bringing about peace in Europe.
For the Senate to hesitate. now that
the resolution confronted ii, he said.
would destroy the moral effect Of the
proposed Endorsement upon the nations
at war.
Views OF many Republican Senator's
were epitomized by Senator Lodge.
who declared the resolution opened up
very large. grave and important
subject"
RESOLUTION INVOLVES
RELATIONS WITH WORLD
~, trust" he added that II will be
realized that this thing cannot be
rushed through. involving. as it does.
our relations TO all the world"
! 4 resolution similar to that of SEN
ator Hitchcock was introduced In the
House late to-day by Representative
Mcclellan. OF Tennessee. and referred
without discussion 10 the Foreign Af-
fairs Committee.
1t was stated at the State Depart
ment that no more neutral countries
had replied to the Presidents note, and
that, though copies were sent TO all
the South American republics for their
information. none of them had felt 1t
necessary to reply In any way.
Congratulatory and optimistic tcle-
grams from abroad were received to-
day from the Swedish League for the
Democracy OF Justice. the central
board of\the Social Democratic Wom-
CONTINUED on Second Page.)