Arizona republican., 1917-02-27
ASKS AUTHORITY
TO CREATE STATE OF
ARMED NEUTRALITY


CONTINUED From Page One)
depth Of the opposition the president
must face, in order. as Senator VIII
liams recently expressed il. TO un-fool
Germany"
The most serious concern Of the
presidents friends is that out of the
situation an expression may 90 abroad
as on previous occasions. that the
united force of congress does not stand
behind him.
me armed neutrality, whish the
president proposes. does not look to
war; whether it shall become war de-
Ponds upon those who infringe upon
the rights it seeks to protect. There
is ample historical precedent for it.
Although the president, when he
severed diplomatic relations with Ger
many, invited other neutrals to follow
his lead. he has not. so far as is known.
suggested that neutrals join the
United States in the armed neutrality
ne proposes. All foreign governments,
however. have been officially advised
IN MS address TO congress today. BY
wireless. the text was sent to Berlin.
Every confidence is expressed at the
White House that congress ultimately
will act as the president asks taking
into account his efforts Of more than
two years to preserve peace as suf-
ficient evidence that he does not de-
sire to plunge the country into war
No steps toward the arrning of mer-
chant ships are to be taken until con-
gress acts. The conveying of mer-
chantmen is not approved by naval au-
thorities as an effective or desirable
strategic policy.
Introduction of the bill in the house
embodying the presidents suggestions
followed numerous conferences on the
subject between senate and house
leaders.
Republican members of the foreign
relations committee let it be known
that when the committee meets tomor-
row they will seek to modify the
measure in several particulars
Many of the minority say there can
be no criticism of the president for
asking broad powers in the emergency
because there are many precedents for
1t in the history of the country. Nc
Kinley was given authority to employ
broad powers and methods before the
Spanish war, the republicans admit,
but they say that this situation Is more
grave than that which confronted the
country in 1898.
What Senator La Toilette may do is
disturbing administration leaders who
would like to have the bill passed at
once. They fear that he may conduct
a filibuster against it.
Senator Simmons, one of the demo-
cratic leaders, said tonight he feared
the republicans would filibuster on the
measure to the extent of forcing 1t
over March 4.
In ha hn frr, Of ba
foreign affairs committee. after at
tending many conferences with his
colleagues and talking with various
senator's, retired to his office and pre-
pared the bill largely from a memo
randum the president handed him at
the White House early in the day. 1t
was automatically referred to his com
mittee without discussion.
Failure of democrats to agree on the
wording of the bill led Mr.. Flood to
change his mind about calling a meet
ing of his committee today as he had
planned.
Speaker Clark, Democratic Leader
Kitchin, Republican Leader Mann,
Senator Simmons, Representative Fitz
gerald, chairman of the house appro-
priation committee, and Representative
Lenroot, republican of Wisconsin. were
uation in Mr.. Kitchin's office. Mr.
Flood also made frequent visits to the
senate side to confer with leaders. 1t
was reported that the bill might be
added to the general revenue bill as an
amendment.
President Wilson in addressing the
joint session said:
Gentlemen of the congress:
Il have again asked the privilege OF
addressing you because we are moving
through critical times during which 1t
seems to me to be my duty to keep In
close touch with the house of congress
so that neither counsel nor action snail
run at cross purposes between as.
ION the third of February | officially
informed you of the sudden and uneX-
peced action of the imperial German
government in declaring its intention to
disregard the promises it had made to,
this government in April last and under