The Sentinel=record., 1917-02-18
TURKEY TO ASSIST !. AMERICANS TO LEAVE
News Regarded as an Indication That the Ottoman Government Was DIS. posed Not to Break With the United States if 1t Could Be Avoided.


 bility of going before congress before the end Of the present session, March 1 A. to make certain that he be clothed with sufficient power to protect Amer lcan lives and property from German submarine activities was discussed by President Wilson today with members oi the senate during brief visit to the capitol
 Afterwards it was indicated that the president had not made up his mlnd on the question. but had such a step nnder consideration because Of the possibility that after adjournment some sudden emergency might arise necessitating action before congress could be called togther agarn. The suggestion was made that con. gress might be asked to pass broad resolution authorizing the president to take any necessary measures for the protection of American rights and avoiding specific stipnlations as to how the protection should be afford cd
 t was indicated that MT. Wilson re- mained as anxious as ever to avoid
 war and that he gave no suggestion that q declaration of war. which con- gress alone can mala, is even consid- cred by him at present in connection with tho possibility of request for additional asthgprity.
 The generai~xseling here has been thar Germany's s2marine campaign sooner or later VI lead inevitably to such q violation American rightg as will require the f hS acfi56 fofe. east by the presideA Tn his address to congress two weeIu ago. The pres ident is understood tg feel. however. that when the time romes the soIu- ton outlined in that address should be followed out literally and the steps taken should constitute an extension of further protection to American in- terests rather than declaration of war
 Officials were much gratified at a message from Berne roday saying the American consuls remaining in Ger many, for whom some concern had been felt. would depart early next week, but there was no evidence that the developemnt would lessen to an aprfeeiable degree the tension be- tween the two countries. It has been pointed out that the overshadowing issue is the German submarine cam. naigE and that any other controversy must be considered as of minor con scqpence.
 There also was much qualification over a report from Ambassador Ellzus al Constantinople saying that Turisey was arranging to facilitate the de- per:ure Of the several hundred Amer ican refugees at Beirut. Officials re- caried the news as an indication that ths Ottoman government was dispoS- ed not to break with the United States. if it could be avoided. There were no developments dur iue the day in the situation with Aus tria, but some officials now are hope fui that the break with Germany viii not h,. extended to any of her allies.
 President Wilson's visit to the cap ;toi is understood to have been pri- marlly for the purpose of discussing with senators the legislative program and to urge passage of various admin istration bills during the remaining two weeks of the session With most of the senators seen he did not talk of the foreign situation, and the im- pression gained ground among some of them that he did not consider tho emergency anymore immediate than ha did severa, days ago. It IS knows on the other hand that the continued holding of many vssels in port has come 10 be looked upon here as con dItion for which some remedy must be round.
 IT the president decides fo go pe. fore congress aglin before she end ol he nresent session. he is expected fo