The Washington herald., 1917-02-03
u. S. AWAITS ACTUAL
VIOLATION OF Pledge
Relations with Germany Remain In
tact. Pending Sub" Violence.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

crisis. Secretary Lansing shook his head
slowly and said
'I do not believe we will be able to
take the public into our confidence to-
night"
Then the President started for the
Capitol. He looked worried and earnest.
and he hurried to the Senate Office Build
ing seeking Senator Stone, chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee. with
out having previously notified Senator
Stone that he was coming. As a result
he was forced to rush to the Capitol
Building proper, where after some search
he found Senator Stone in the Foreign
Relations Committee room.
They conferred there for some time,
and then the President hurried to his
private room in the Senate lobby.
Sergeants-at-arms and Senate officials
were sent scurrying for all the DEM
ocratic Senators that could be located.
Sixteen were found, and all OF them
crowded into the Presidents room.
Senator Vardaman, OF Mississippi, a
pronounced pacifst, was In the con-
ference but a short time. He left the
room greatly agitated, and aroused, de-
| claring that the President was laying Q
very serious situation before the Sena'
tors. AS the conference proceeded, other
Senators came and went, all anxious
and perplexed, and an air of deep gloom
settled about the little red and gilt room
that fanks the impressive marble loooy
of the Senate chamber.
No Further Exchanges.
/ Senators generally agree" said on'
Western Senator leaving the conference
that the United States should conduct M
further diplomatic exchanges. They agre'
that the first overt act in violation O.
the pledges given by Germany should
result in the complete severance of al
diplonnatic relations between the tive
countries. They believe that the United
States should wait for an actual over
act violating those pledges before tax
/ ing action. The President seemed in
cHned to agree with that view"
Among the Senators who talked will
the President were Stone, of Missouri
/ Robinson, of Arkansas; Phelan, OF Call
fornia; Myers, of Montana; Overman, o
North Carolina; Ransdell. Of Louisiana
| Vardaman, of Mississippi; Beckham, o
! Kentucky, and Hoke Smith, OF Georgia
| After the conference, all were grav'
and concerned, and all united in th'
| statement that the President could coun
upon strong support from the Senate
| in whatever course he might decide upon
They stated that the President was seek
ing a course that would meet the view
! OF the whole country
| It was apparent that II the Presiden
| follows the Views expressed at the Sen
ate conference, there will be no imme
date break with Germany on the fac
OF present conditions The sinking o
an American ship without warning, o
the sinking OF a ship with Americans ol
! board, would at once precipitate tn
/ crisis. But even in this event, della!
L yht be caused by the necessity 70
( curing full and complete facts as Il
IL . disaster.
Planned Note to Berlin.
| It was learned that one course studiet
yesterday by the President and his ad
visers was the dispatch Of a note to Ger
many, expressing the amazement OF thi
government at the new submarine decia
ration in the latest note, recalling tn
pledges Of Germany in the Sussex con
troversy, and the statement OF the Unite,
States at that time that these pledge
could not be considered as conditional
This note which was tentatively DRAFTED
for dispatch to Berlin. It was stated
would again declare the intention Of thi
| country to suspend all diplomatic rela
tions II the new submarine campaign be
came effective. This course was discussed
with Senators.
After last nights conference, SENATOR
stated that there were three possibl
courses now under consideration by tn,
administration, which had been discussed
with the Democratic Senators. The!
were:
An immediate break with Germany
| based on the conclusion that the declara
ton OF relentless submarine warfare VIC
| lates the Sussex pledges.
! Delay until an overt act violates tn,
Sussex pledges and then an immedIat'
break.
I The dispatch OF a communication t
| Germany stating that an overt act vio
lating the Sussex pledges will force 1
break.
There was some sentiment, II wa
| stated, in favor Of all of these courses, II
the Senate conference, but the genera
| opinion seemed to support the seconC
course.
Neither the President nor Secretary o
State Lansing would discuss the matte
| beyond the statement that an announce
ment would be delayed until today.