The Washington herald., 1917-01-04
Administration
LEADERS IN PANIC
ON PEACE NOTE
Resolution to Indorse Presi-
dents Move In Grave
Danger of Defeat.
LODGE MAKES CHARGE
Says it Helped German Bid for Fsvor-
able Terms-Col. House at
Executive Mansion.

bitter debate in the Senate over
President Wilson's peace note yesterday
further delayed Congressional indorse-
ment Of the peace movement Caustic
! criticism by Republican Senators. led by
Senator Lodge, ranking Republican mem
Der OF the Foreign Relation Committee,
and an apparent deep-seated opposition
to the peace plan led administration
leaders tonight to the conclusion that
the pressure for Congressional indorse-
ment had done more harm than good
TO the movement
Today's debate emphasized the very
point which the administration from the
beginning has sought to avoid, the link
] ing Of the Presidents peace note with
the peace proposals OF the Teutonio
powers. Diplomatic Washington last
night declared that even IL the Senate
finally indorses the Presidents position.
I the night against the Endorsement resolu-
tion has already made IL clear 20 foreign
nations that his peace proposals have
not the unanimous support of the repre-
sentative branch of the government
which shares with the President the
conduct OF foreign affairs.
Col. House Arrives.
Diplomatic development went on slowly
under the surface. as the White House
and the State Department awaited
anNiouSly for the note Of the entente
allies in reply to the Presidents peace
proposals. The secrecy OF confidential
communications was apparent and Sec
retary Lansing declined to discuss the
peace situation in any way.
Much speculation was aroused by The
arrival I'm Washington last night Of Col.
f. =. House. President Wilson's conf
dental adviser. His activities in the peace
movement, while completely shrouded IN
mystery have been accepted as impor-
tant.
He went at once to the White House.
where he is eSpe'tSt 70 stay for sew
Lodge MsSI.s srect Charge.
S ,nator X 'rss outspOken in his
o., oeGlaratiSat ,,,ss.T.sSat there is -widesPresd
note. was designed and timed 70 help
! Germany gain a peace upon her own
terms He declsred that the peace
move was a desertiOn Of the time-honor-
ed American policy Of avoiding en-
tsngling alliances abroad" and asserted
that IT placed in jeopardy the continued
maintenance OF the Monroe doctrine.
!
he cited the favorable comment Of Count
vo Bernstorf1. the German Ambassador
on the Presidents note as a reason whv
. the Senate should not indorse the move
The Massachusetts Senator read a signed
statement in which Count Won Bernstorff
lauded the Presidents move. and COM
mented
1t Is very unusual for an Ambassador
10 approve or disspProve the utterance OF
a President Washington demanded the
recall Of Citizen Genet early In our his
! tory for that very reason II presents
a very strong objection TO our indOrsing
and approving a note that has been so
widely misinterpreted.
Into European Politics.
1t is quite as possible 20 be unneutral
in the conduct OF peace negotiations as in
war.
The Importance Of this resolution can
not be exaggerated. II projects Congress
into European politics and involves us in
I European affairs. There is such a thing
as a good peace and a bad peace.
We do not desire a peace which is
simply a breathing space for the beIlig-
crents to gather strength for another
struggle which. when renewed, would
involve US"
Senator Hitchcock and Senator Smith.
OF Georgia, Democrats. argued in sup
port OF the resolution and demanded i'm
mediate action. They made Il clear that
the administration desired a vote at once.
Meantime Senator Stone. chairman Of the
Foreign Relations Committee had dis
cussed the situation with Secretary Of
State Lansing. who had come TO the Cap
itoI on various matters.
Resolution Withdrawn
, When it became apparent that the de-
bate was damaging the Presidents peace
plans, Senator Hitchcock abruptly with
drew his resolution until tomorrow. at
the instance OF Administration Senators.
/ Before the debate closed, however. Sen
ator Lodge injected into the discussion
the declaration that the resolution tend
ed to line the Senate up on the side Of
one group OF belligerents
Il do not wish" he said, TO see this
country ranged on the side OF either bel
I ligerant either in war. or in seeking
peace. do not wish a vote OF mine to
be misinterpreted 20 indicate that ! am
ranged on the side OF either belligerens.
and particularly / do not wish to be
ranged against the side that is fighting
the battles of democracy and on the side
Of military autocracy.
90 not wish TO he ranged on the
side Of the allies. and certainly do not
wish TO be ranged on the side OF Ger
many. That is the Interpretation of this
note which has gone so broadcast over
the world that the President has felt IL
necessary to anticipate It."
Senator Gallinger. OF New Hampshire.
presented a substitute for the indorse-
meut resolution which would simply place
| the Senate on record as hoping for peace
! Administration Senators last night were
uncertain as to whether they would con-
tinue to press the Hitchcock resolution
! tomorrow.