New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-19
Viii Ask Congress for Full
Authority to Protect
American Rights" q
n
But Not for Power
To Start Hostilities
Difference Is Psychological
Expected to Appear at the
Capitol This Week
BY STEVENSON H. EVANS

Washington, reb. iS.-Ihe walt
ing policy OF President Wilson was
continued to-day, without intimation
from him of any developments in
the situation, or OF the crystallizing
Of his plans. He made no apparent
move during The day, and the State,
War and Navy departments were
more quiet than for weeks.
The statement was authorized
that the President had made no
plans for his expected appearance
before Congress, but no one here
doubts that he will do so. II is
believed that he will appear in the
Capitol before the end of this week,
to give Congress ample time TO act
en- the requests which he will make
before its final adjournment, on
March 4.
Mr.. Wilson will not ask Congress
for a declaration Of war, nor for a
delegation to him of any of its
powers to declare war. The au-
thority he gets. however, will
amount to the same thing, for the
first shot that is fired will mean
that the two countries are at war.
viii Get the Authority
But the most careful efforts are
t. be made to convince Congress and
the country that all the President
wants is authority to defend Ameri-
can lives and rights.
There is little chance that he will
Be opposed by the Republicans.
Prominent Republican Senator'S to-
night asserted that the President
would get whatever authority and
whatever money he saw fit to ask
for The opinion Of leading Re-
publicans in the House was that
there will be no opposition on the
minority side to any reasonable re-
quest the President may make.
II is from members Of his own party
that the President is looking for oPpo
sition. He has been told that II he asks
Tor blanket authority il would amount
10 a delegation Of the war-making
mower. Tie also has been told that,
while such resolution might bo
iammed through, it would be in the
/ face of loud opposition, and that Il
+ would be wise TO limit his request 70
the actual needs.
II the situation with Germany gets 70
the point OF actual hostllities after
/ Congress has djourned the Democratic
leaders want 20 be called back, so that
they can declare war or vote against
such a declaration.
Think lie viii BE Cautious
It is expected that the President will
be extremely cautious in pnrasing his
request for authority, and that he VIII
+ express once more his anxiety 20 go 20
/ almost any length TO avoid war Ac-
cording 70 a very large group in Con-
/ gress he has no intention OF using the
power conferred upon him except as an
j extreme recourse. They believe Mr..
Wilson is anxious 10 get the situation
+ i'm his own hand, 20 rid himself Of the
/ presence of Congress, and then 10 pur-
/ sue a policy Of watchful waiting
There is no doubt that this is ths
policy which he himself fayors. But
the present situation is such that zc>
: tion Of some sort must be taken if the
assertion of American rights at sea IS
20 be made effective. The best in
L. -. .ssl.
Administration officials say, for ex-
ample. that there Is no doubt Mr.. WI
son has determined upon a policy OF
arming American Slips.
/ For the moment the President and
his friends are hoping that the Ger
man submarine campaign will be fail
urc because Of the defensive powers Of
the British submarine destroyers.
Many arc pointing to the small SUBJ
marine daily bag, as compared with the
/ first ten days of February, and are
arguing that il will not De iong now
before the Germans must admit they
cannot succeed By frightfulness and
will reaiiirm. as a concession 10 the
United States. the pledges contained
in the Sussex note.
Naval Men Not Optimistic
Men In the Navy Department, how
ever, arc not nearly so hopeful. II will
/ take a great many more days OF small
bags before they are willing TO ad-
nit the submarine campaign is total
/ failure. They are not convinced, either,
+ that the British destroyers are captur-
ing or destroying submarines. They
think that the heavy weather may have
something 20 do with the situation,
and that the probable greenness OF
many Of the submarine crews has more
TO do with il. A highly trained sub
marine crew probably cannot maintain
an average Of hits higher than so per
cent Green crews doubtless miss
many more times. But this ineNperi-
cnce will grow less as the days go By.
The military men here are prscu-
cally united ia the opinion that q
state Of war between Germany and
the United States cannot be long ne
layed That opinion is strongly
backed up in the neutral embassies
and legations.
This opinion is not based on the
fact that war has always followed
eventually after two first class powers
have broken diplomatic relations. "
Is rather based on the certainty IN the
minds OF the neutral diplomats here
that Germany intends 10 play itS
desperate game 20 a desperate cno-
/ They look upon the situation as ons