Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-02-03
DEMOCRATS URGE
 ACTION AT ONCE
Some Advise Immediate Break, While Stone, Lewis and Others Counsel De
 lay Until Germany
 Actually Affronts.

Washington, Feb. 2.-The subma- rine menace sweeps on, and every hour draws the United States nearer a break with Germany. No restrain
 ing development appeared today to stem the tide. Official Washington is convinced the crash is only mat ter of time and question of form.
 A long session of tho cabinet and q dramatic night meeting of the presi- dent and senators at the capitol de Veloped a unanimlty of opinion that the challenge to the honor of the United States must Be met The means Of doing so appears to be the only question undetermined When President Wilson and his ad visers parted tonight flor night, reflection as the president himself put it, apparently it had not been de- trmined whether the United States should delay action until Germany commits some overt act. or whether passports should be handed to Count von Bernstorff with CT without q warning note to Berlin.
 After the president and cabinet had been in session for more than two hours. MT. Wilson hurried to the capitol, and a statement issued at the white house said:
 'The president and cabinet thOroly canvassed the situation, but there is nothing to announce" Members of the cabinet, sworn 10 secrecy, left the wh;te house with grave faces. One of them later said that "the near future will develop something very. very serious" Another gave the hint that some overt act might be awaited tefore action IS taken. "The last chance has not yet come,' he said. While Germany has announced her purpose she has not yet carried t into effect, so far as we know"
 The cabinet unanimously agreed that the United States could, under no circumstances, countenance such an invasion of rights as the German campaign of ruthless warfare pro- poses.
 At the capitol the president had an hours conference alone with Sena- tor Stone, chairman of the foreign re- | lations committee, and then sent word that he sought the views of all sena-
 tors. Many of the Democrats hur-
 ried to his room on the second floor of the capitol. Seated there with the senators grouped about him in a semi circle, the president gave no indica- 1 tion of the decision he had reached,
 but frankly announced he had come to hear their opinion. To induce open expressions, the president was carc- | full not to show his own opinion. Three courses were suggested by differents senators.
 Break off diplomatic relations wit1 Germany at once, md deliver 10
 Count von Bernstorff his passports tomorrow.
 To delay action until some overt act has been committee against the United States.
 Redefine the position of the United States as outlined all thru the sub | marine controversy, with final warning that an offense means a dip- lomatic break
 The opinion of a large majority of | the senators was against the last mentioned course.
 | Senators Stone and Lewis favor as sumed that Germany did not intend to invade American rights, but were for meeting any such invasion with | immediately severance of relations. Other senators were confident that the German war zone proclamation meant an invasion of American rights, and they favored breaking off rela- | Continued on page sixl