The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-03

washington, FeD. 3.-AmDaSSadOI
Won Bernstorff was handed his pass
ports at Las this afternoon. He has
turned over the affairs of the German
embassy to the Swiss ambassador.
The ambassador appeared relieved
that the strain OF the past two years
is over. Countess Won Bernstorff is
the only member Of his family on this
side of the ocean.
President Wilson at o'clock made
his statement to the joint assembly.
In ii he appealed to other neutral ma
tions to take the same position as the
United States has adopted
Washington, Feb. 3.-President Viii
son has definitely decided. it was an
nounced this morning to break diplo-
matte relations with Germany. 1t
was announced from the white house
that the president would notify con-
gress of the course he had decided up
on at 2 O'Clock this afternoon when a
joint session is called for that pur-
pose.
Ambassador Gerard has been re-
called from Berlin.
Washington. Feb. 3.-The subma-
rine menace sweeps on, and every
hour draws the United States nearer
a break with Germany. No restrain
ing developments appear to stem the
tide. Official Washington is convinced
the crash is only matter Of time and
a question of forms.
A long session OF the cabinet and a
dramatic night meeting of the presi-
dent and senators at the capitol de-
veloped unanimity OF opinion that the
challenge to the honor of the United
States must be met. The means of
meeting it appears to be the only
question undetermined.
When President Wilson and his ad-
visers parted for a nights refec-
tion," as the president himself put it,
it had apparently not been determined
whether the United States should de-
lay action until Germany commits an
overt act, or whether passports
should be handed to Count Won Berns-
torff, with or without warning note
to Berlin
<tAbCi thO Pl ColuClib tiC N0bAAiCe
had been in session more than two
hours, Mr. Wilson hurried to the capt.
tol, and this statement was issued at
the White House: THE president and
the cabinet thoroughly canvassed the
situation, but there is nothing to an
nounce.'
Members of the cabinet, bound to
silence, left the White House with
grave faces. One of them later sufii-
ciently broke the rule of silence to
say: The near future will develop
something very, very serious"
Another gave hint of the proba-
bility that some overt act might be
awaited, or at least warming given,
by saying: THE last chance has not
yet gone. While Germany has an
nounced her purpose, she has not yet
carried it into effect, so far as we
know" The cabinet unanimously
agreed, however, that the United
States could under no circumstances
countenance such an invasion of its
rights as Germany's campaign OF
ruthlessness proposes.
At the capitol the president had an
hours conference alone with Senator
Stone, chairman of the foreign rela-
tions committee, and then sent out
word that he sought the views Of all
senators. Many of the democrats
hurried to his room on the Senate
floor. Seated there, with senators
grouped about him in semicircle. the
president gave no indication Of de-
cision of his own, but frankly an
nounced he had come to hear their
opinions.
To induce open expression, he was
careful not to specify what he had in
his own mind, but invited discus
sion of three propositions:
/. To break off diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany at once and deliv-
er ambassador von Bernstorffs pass
ports today.
2. To delay action until some overt
z has been committed against the
J ITS of the United States.
3. To redefine the position OF the
United States, as outlined all through
the submarine controversy, with a
| final warning that an offense means a
diplomatic break
The sentiment of large majority
of the senators was against the last