Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-07
DISSENSION IN THE SENATE
OVER O. K. OF PRESIDENTS ACT
Two Democrats Oppose Endorsement Of
Break With Germany-Lodge, Presidents
Critic, Indorses Executive Move.

Dissension over President Wilson's
breaking off diplomatic relations with
Germany broke out in the Senate today
when Senator Stone brought up his
resolution to put the body on record
in Endorsement of the Presidents
action. Two democratic senators
Vardaman and kirby-announced at
the outset that they would not vote for
the Endorsement. as did one republican,
Works of California.
Other senators who objected to the
Presidents action announced that they
would vote for the Endorsement for sake
of national unity. All, however, pledged
their support if the country went TO
war.
Senator Lodge, republican, probably the
Presidents most frequent and bitter critic
in international affairs, pledged his whole
support to the Presidents action unre-
servedly, and called upon his colleagues
to follow him.
Senator Stones resolution wis taken up
for action Immediately after Senator
Works. republican. in a prepared speech,
had assailed the Presidents course.
Senator Stone began by reading q
cable dispatch from London the DAY
the President severed relations telling
how the news was received there with
outbursts OF enthusiasm and editorials,
which declared it meant America IN the
war on the side of the entente ail1es.
"A great number of articles OF TINS
import" said Senator Stone. have been
appearing from day to day in the
American press Whatever may be the
result of the regrettable international
entangleinents in which We are now in
volved. [ do not know. But 1 want TO
express my conviction and hope that
we will not lose our equilibrium and
be swept off our feet, at least at the
instance of a foreign power or under
the influence of propaganda put
forth for the purpose of exciting us to
war on the side of one of the belliger-
ents. 1t is Il matter that must not rest
on foreign dictation. No matter what
comes, we should take our own course
in our own way.
Hopes Against Partisan Speech.
II hope the officials and people of
the United States will avoid any
partisan speech calculated to excite
passion" the senator continued.
Il presented tnlS resolution because
| think we ought to let the world know
that we support the President when
ever he acts within his constitutional
powers and speaks for the country.
There are senators who think it
might have been the better part of
wisdom if the President had postponed
severance of relations with Germany
at least until Germany had committed
some overt act offensive to this gov
ernment. But the President took :;
u-h ich he. St
ably supported in his address, and as
he acted within his constitutional au-
thority I think it wise and adVlsabl
for the Senate to say officially that 1t
accepts and approves his action.
Presidential Authority.
Regarding the extent of the Presi-
dents constitutional authority Sena-
tor Stone cited that the Constitution
authorizes the President to receive"
foreign ambassadors. While it does
not expressly authorize him to dismiss
them Also" said Senator stone. Il
think the President has that author
ity because he has the primary duty OF
diplomatic afairs. The authority to
receive / think. carries as a corollary
the authority to dismiss.
Some say that the President should
take official advice of Congress before
be offensive to another government 1t
has been said that il might be provoca-
tive of war to receive representative
of. some revolutionary government.
This was the view Of President Jack
son. but manifestly was not OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt in receiving a repre-
sentative from Panama.
1T might be argued that peremptory
dismissal of a foreign ambassador might
lead to serious consequences and that
the President might we'll lay the whole
matter before Congress for its advice
before taking such step.
Approves Presidents Act.
II hold that the President is primar-
lily charged with the consideration OF
diplomatic relations with foreign gov
arnments and unless circumstances ex-
rremely exceptional should arise, l feel
constrained to support and approve the
act of the President in dismissing a
foreign ambassador or even terminat-
ing diplomatic relations putting an end
to ordinary measures of International
intercourse. That is practically the
identical situation with respect to Mex
..,t OF