Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-03-02
Democrats and Republicans Join in Conforming Atti-
 tude of Senator Stone.
LANSING DECLINES
 ENLIGHTEN SOLONS
Doesn't Deem II Compatible With Public Interest to Make Public How Vote Came Into Possession of
 United States.

Washington, March 1-PreSident Wilson tonight, in response to the senate's call, laid before that body official information 1lat tle United States government is in possession of evidence which establishes the au-- thenticy of the sensational document that disclosed how Germany intrigued to ally Mexico and Japan with her, to war on this country.
 In response to the resolution. the president transmitted report from Secretary of State Lansing, stating that the evidence had come into the possession of the United States with in the last week. and that the au- thenticity of Foreign Minister Zm- merman's instructions to German Minister von Eckarhdt at Mexico City is established, as revealed by the As sociated Press.
 The presidents reply to the senate resolution, and Secretary Lansing's report, are as follows:
 'To the senate:
 'In response to the resolution adopted by the senate on March 1, 1917, requesting the president to fur nish the senate, if not incompatible with the public interests, whatever information he has concerning the note published in the press of this date, purporting to have been sent Jan. 19, 1917, by the German secre- tary for foreign affairs to the Ge = man minister to Mexico, l transmit herewith report by the secretary of state, which has my approval.
 WOODROW WILSON, "The White House,
 Washington, March 1, 1917."
 Secretary Lansing's Report. Secretary of State Lansing, in his report, stated that the government is in possession of evidence which establishes the fact that the note re- ferred to is authentic and it is in the possession of the government of the United States, and tha+ the evidence was procured by th;s government during the present week, but that i is, in my opinion, incompatible with the public interests |" send to tho senate at the present time any further information in possession of the government of the United States,
 
 resolution of the senate" The senate, without comment, ordered the report and letter printed and referred to the foreign relations committee.
 Day of Solemn Debate. The adoption of the resolution ask ing for the infOrmatioil came at the close of a day of solemn debate, which reached it's climax with Republican senators joining Democrats in con- demning Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign relations committee, who declared the story of the plot was given out by the government to af- feet public opinion and insisted upon asking the president whether the information was received from the representative of any belligerent nation. Senator Fall Republican, of Massachusetts, said he did not wonder that the president decided to reach the public opinion through the press, in view of the attitu le of member S visers.
 The subject came up soon after the senate assembled, and held the at, tention of the body nearly all day, in spite of the mass of legislation awaiting action. Senators on both sides of the chamber expressed amazement at the stor.y and declared that if it were true, the senate shou! Id be informed.
 Kirby In Limelight.
 Senator Kirby of Arkansas read a newspaper story to the effect that the administration was convinced the publicity of the note would influence congress to pass the armed neutral ity bill.
 eff the president gave this to the press, instead of the senate-if he expected to influence the senate, wouldn't it have been as well to have given t to the senate. and not to the newspapers?" asked Senator Kirby.
 Senator Swanson announced that he had been authorized by the presi- dent to say that the note from Ger