Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-02

| we all realize the gravity Oh ths
situation. ! want the most explicit in
| formation before acting in a matter
which may be so grave in it's conse-
| Quences."
! Senator Smith. Democrat of Georgia,
said NE hoped the resolution would be
! adopted at once.
STONES ATTITUDE.
After reading the resolution, Senator
| Stone said:
1T seems to me that the resolution
| ought to go to the committee on for
! eign relations. Here is "a newspaper
| report that the secretary of foreign re-
lations Of the. German government has
sent the German ambassador in Wash
ington a certain letter which appears in
the morning papers. We are not in
| formed as to the source. We have no
facts upon which to determine our
| judgment as to the resolutions &C
curacy
There may be information in the
hands of the state department of a con-
| idential nature chat it might not be
'"~uGht compatible with public inter
est to reveal. Then again, this alleged
....p,,,rh may NOT be authentic. 1t may
not be true.
There may be something behind all
this we do not know about" continued
Senator Stone. "It seems to me in the
exigencies of this moment it is the part
of prudence and sound judgment to pro-
coed deliberately. 1 think the wiser
course would be to send the resolution
to the committee and have that com
mittee make the necessary investiga-
ton and then report what action in their
opinion should be taken.
But if that view is not conceded in
by the senate then we ought at least
tn no
to call on the president for all informa-
ton respecting the sources of. this state
ment said to have been given out Of
ficially or semi-officially. 1 would like
to >know all about it; how it was OBJ
tanned and from whom and l want to
know the facts tending to establish its
authenticity We might fall into sit
uation we do not care to touch. 1 do
not see how we can act until we know
the facts.
WANTS FULL ADVICE.
1--WE ought to be as fully advised not
only as to the Associated Press, but as
to the state department"
Senator Smith, Republican of Michi-
gan, suggested the president could re-
fuse to give the information if he de-
sired.
as the counsellor. to the executive m
these matters, ought at least to ask
for the information. l have sustained
the president throughout this crisis and
1 am going to sustain him now, but
think we are entitled to information
properly within his possession, with
out any hesitation or delay"
Senator Foindexter, of Washington,
Inv h.
LEGATION of the Zimmerman instructions
created a situation of great gravity.
81 fail to see very much news in the
item" he said. I'VE have been reading
for months of alleged activities OF this
kind concerning which this Zimmerman
note appears to me to be a mere incl
dent Every senator in this body has
read of the melting of instruction in
Cuba and various Vaccinations in Mex
leo. Reports like this have been circu-
lating for weeks and months. Even if
this is true, what change is there in the
situation"
'I have seen rurnors and rumors of
rumors," said Senator Pomerene, but
this morning for the first time we have
a concrete statement purporting to be
n note issued by high official of the
German government. I pray to God it
is not true, but at the same time, when
confronted with what seems to be docu-
mentary evidence and with the statement
by the senator from Virginia in effect
that the president said the matter pub
lished was substantially correct think
I am within the bounds of reason when
/ say that there is grave situation
1 am not willing to act until we can
have the fullest information the presi-
dent can give us compatible with the
public interest"
HOW POINDExTER FEELS.
We'll, that does not change our sit
uation," Senator PoindeXter continued.
1T does not alter the fact that it is
impossible for us to send an army to
Mexico or Germany, or navies either"
Senator Hardwick said he did not OBJ
ject to referring the Lodge resolution
to the committee, but only to Its imme-
diate consideration.
Senator Townsend deplored the OBJ
lection of the Georgia senator putting
the resolution over until tomorrow un-
der the rules.
''There may never be any tomorrow
in this session." said Senator townsend,
Republican, Of Michigan. This new
element injected has made it very diff
cult for the senate to act on the resolu-
ton of the senator from Missouri Chat
empowering the president to act). We
are in doubt as to what we ought to do
Not a senator here believes the resolu-
tion of the senator from Massachusetts
was offered with intent to embarrass
any one"
Senator Pomerene asked unanimous
consent that the Lodge resolution be
referred to the foreign relations COM
mittee with "a request for immediate
action"
Senator Norris, Republican, of Ne
braska, asked that the resolution be
referred to the committee with instruc-
tions to report back tomorrow.
Senator Stone objected to any refer
ence with directions or instructions to
the committee. He said he resented
implications that the committee might
not act upon it,