The Washington times., 1917-02-02

President Wilson is scheduled to maxi
q short address Of welcome tonight a
the opening Of the annual meeting o
the United States Chamber Of Com
merce, Up to a late hour today, TIT
engagement had not ben cancelled
In the morning the President went Il
the links for his customary game o.
EelL He was accompanied by DIR. Car,
T. Grayson. After his return he shu
himself UP in the S,ss-=-v 3: the White
House Secretary 0f state LarSlIs wa
not summoned. thonFh thetwo are under
stood to have been n Communication BY
telephone.
Reports Denied.
Reports that the Navy Department
had already taken steps to protect
American shipping and for any even
tualities that may occur, were specif
ically denied by Secretary Of the
Navy Daniels.
mo orders,"-he said. shave gone
out for a redisposition OF the naval
forces, nor are any in contempla
ton"
DelnEe Of TeIegrams.
verit1bie deuges OF kilograms
urging the President to take a de-
termined stand in dealing with inter
national complications, flooded the
White House today.
or the hundreds of communications
received yery-few urged the break
ing off of relations with Germany.
All OF the rest of them advocated
that the. President back UP to the
limit the statements made to Berlin
in the Sussex note. -''~
Anheunee9ent Soon (
There was a strong official hint to-
day that some announcement OF this
Governments Intentions may be look
ed for within twenty-fOur hours.
This announcement may come after
the Cabinet goes into what probably
will be the most historic meeting
since the war with Spain.
The Cabinet meeting was set for
the usual hour Of 2:30 this afternoon.
Usually these meetings take up from
thirty minutes to an hour. The one
this afternoon is expected to run well
on toward evening
Constant Conference.
President Wilson has been In almost
constant conference with Col. L. NJ.
House. his closest personal friend and
adviser since the morning after Ger
many's note was handed him.
The hint OF a possible statement Of
position by tomorrow came when the
State Department said 1t might give
requested instructions to American
ships regarding sailings "by tomor-
row. Such instructions could only be
given after this Governments posi-
ton is taken.
Every Angle To BE shown.
Every, angle is to be laid before
the Cabinet this afternoon in writing
for Secretary Lansing on whom will
fall the bEunt of answering queries.
"thinks on paper"
Feeling predominates in official cir
eles. that-a break with Germany is
inevitable-if Germany carries out TO
the letter. her avowed intentions.
But behind this feeling is another
that the unexpected may be ex-
pected'' from the President.
There was one real and very evi-
dent cloud otherwise. however. This
Eoms official quarters. over the puz-
ecooNSA
Won BernstoFff. .-.
Few Grasp sItaatioa.
There is small doubt in the minds of
anyone here that break in diplomatic
relations is Inevitable. yet there are few
Who seem able to grasp the eventualities
that lie beyond a severance Of relations.
There Is an old German saying: "wer
"A Sagt, muss auch b sagen-"who
says A must also say b." There has
seldom been a time when a severance
Of diplomatic relations between two
countries did not mean war, the most
notable exception in recent years being
when Nelson O'Shaughnessy, American
charge d'affsires at Mexico City, was
handed his passports by Huerta.
HostilIties Then.
Even then such hostilities were in
progress as the bombardment Of Vera
Cruz. though the United States Govern
ment did not call il war.
II diplomatic relations are broken
with Germany. IL might be assumed,
the next step would be the supplying
of American warships as conveys TO
merchantmen; then, per-
haps, the sinking Of such convoy;
then q declaration Of war.
All these are possibilities which are
dlmly realiEed-among congressman
for example; yet the National Capital
is remarkably calm. There have
been many "criees" weathered in
in the past two years
and half; and there are many men
in Congress who believe that Presi-
den Wilson will yet find a way out of
this one.
Country UnDrepared.
No man who has ever sat in the
White House faced a more critical
decision. And he faces it with the
unprepared.
None of the ships authorized under
the new naval building program, OF
course, are completed. 1t takes from
three to four years to build a battle
ship, and contracts for the first of
the new lot were only let last No
Vember. OF the ships in service none
has its full complement OF men. Prob
ably not more than two-thirds of the
capital ships could be put In service
with full personnel.
Although the army reorganization
act, passed last year, provides for a
peace strength Of TO-, 900 and a war
strength Of 10000 in the regular
army, the force has not been re-
THE WEATHER REPORT.
District of Colunbfa-Fair and cold