The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-03
Won BernstOrff Censured i'm
Senate by Senator Lodge.
Endorsement of Note sQueered
1t" With Entente.
SEEK APPROVAL OF CONGRESS
Hitchcock Appeals to Back Up
Presidents Peace Move.
Opposition Asks "What GOOD
Will Endorsement Dos"

Washington, Jan. 3.-During the
senate debate today on the resolution
to endorse President Wilson's peace
note, Senator Lodge attacked German
Ambassador Won Bernstorff for giving
out newspaper statement publicly
approving the note.
.tIt is hardly to be wondered at, with
such a statement as that from the
German ambassador said Senator
Lodge, that there should be general
misinterpretation of the note, a gen.
eral belief that it was designed ana
timed so as to help Germany in at
, tanning peace upon the terms she de-
sires to impose
Against Declines to Vote On 1t.
| Washington, Jan. 3.-For the fourth
time the senate refused this afternoon
to vote on a resolution endorsing Pres
| ident Wilson's note to the belligerent
! countries of Europe.
| Following a stormy session, the SEN
ate by unanimous consent, put over
until tomorrow, vote on the Hitchcock
/ resolution which endorses President
Wilson's action
Senator Gallinger Immediately in
troduced a substitute for the Hitch
cock resolution. 1t reads:
Resolved, that the senate of the
United States in the interests of hu-
mainly and civilization express the
sincere hope that peace between the
warning nations of Europe may be
consummated at an early date"
Neutrals' Existence Threatened.
Washington, Jan. 3.-"rhe very ex-
| istence of neutral nations is becoming
difficult" Senator Hitchcock declared
today in renewing his fight for en-
/ dorsernent by the senate of the presi-
dents note TO be1liqereDtS
| Hitchcock. urging immediate en-
\ dorsement, said:
II realize there may be two opin-
ions in the senate as to the president $
can be any real objection to endorsing
the action itself. The nations are at
present far apart. This step by the
president is the first to be made to
bring them nearer.
| president Wilson has not gone so
far as did Roosevelt during the Jap
lanese-Russian war. He has not asked
the warning nations to stop the war
If Roosevelt's steps were justified,
how much more are President VIII
sons efforts when the very existence
of neutral nations is becoming diff
cult 2"
Borah and Lodge Oppose.
Senator Borah interrupted with;
What good can come of it? What
will be accomplished by the senate en-
dorslng the action of the president 2
Endorsement by the senate will not
hurry the replies of the warning ma
lions to the peace overtures''
Senator Smith, Georgia, asked i'm
mediate action
In ordinary cases 1 am in favor of
referring such matters to the commit
tee on foreign affairs" said Smith.
This however, is not an ordinary af-
fair. The effect of the president q
notes will be lost entirely if we delay
any longer action on the notes.
Doesn't Understand Move.
The United States still does not know
what President Wilson's notes to bel
!, ligerent powers actually means; this
should be made clear before there is
any congressional action regarding en-
: | dorsement of his action is taken, Sena-
tor Lodge declared in opposing a vote
at this time on the Hitchcock resolu-
ton.
I'VE must have time to consider
what the presidents note commits this
United States to-" Lodge said.