The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-08
Senate Almost Unanimously
Approved President Will
sons Action
GIVING PASSPORTS
TO Won BERNSTORFF'
The Opposition Made but a
Feeble Showing After
the Debate

Washington, D. c., Feb. S.--Presiden
Wilson's severance of diplomatic rela
tons with Germany was approved form
ally yesterday by the Senate By q
vote of rs to 5 the Senate expressed con
tidence in the presidents course adopting
resolution submitted by Chairman
Stone OF the foreign relations committed
endorsing the withdrawal of American
Ambassador Gerard from Berlin and Civ
ing to German Ambassador Won Bern
storff his passports. Senators who voted
against the resolution were:
Democrats--Kirby of Arkansas and
Vafdaman of Mississippi.
Republicans--Gronna of North Dakota
Works of California and LaFoIlette OF
| Wisconsin.
Five hours of debate preceded the vote
but the only active opposition came from
the five senators who stood out against
the resolution when the roll was called.
The ranking Republican leaders joined
the Democrats in declaring their whole
hearted support of the president.
The Resolution.
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas, the president has, for the
reasons stated in his address, delivered
to Congress in joint session on Feb. 8,
1917, severed diplomatic relations with
the imperial German government by the
recall of the American ambassador at
Berlin and by handing his passports to
the German ambassador at Washington,
and
Whereas, notwithstanding this sever
ance of diplomatic intercourse, the presi-
dent has expressed his desire to avoid
conflict with the imperial German gov
eminent, and
Whereas, the president declared in
this said address that if in his judgment
an occasion should arise for further ac-
ton in the premises on the part of the
government OF the United States he
would sdbmit the matter to the Congress
and ask the authority of Congress to use
such measures as he might deem neees-
sary for protection of American seamen
and people in the prosecution OF their
peaceful and legitimate errands on the
high seas,
Therefore, Be it resolved by the SEN
ate that the Senate approves the action
taken by the president as set forth in his
address delivered before the Joint session
of the Congress as stated above"
This resolution" said Senator Lodge 4
gives the approval of the House to the
action by the president set forth in his
address of Feb. 3. That action was con
stituted of n severance of diplomatic re-
lations with Germany. In my opinion,
the president in taking that action did
what was demanded by the honor, safety
and future security of the United States.
My personal opinion as to his action is Of
no consequence at this iuncture. The
has vested in the president
the conduct of foreign affairs up to the |
point where war is the next step. OF his /
right under the constitution to dismiss a
foreign representative there can be no +,
question. The power which alone can re-
'eive must in the necessity OF things be !
he power that must dismiss. The presi- |
lent has placed us in controversy and |
,reated strained situation with for
ign nation. Under these circumstances
,arty lines vanish; any criticism of past
" present is silenced for me.
w heH my country IL III tohbiVNticg
With foreign nation can see for my
elf but one duty--and that is to stand
" and support the recognized and con-
titutional authority of the government
n dealing with foreign nations. see no
lace here at this moment for discussion
Il the sending of munitions of war, in
which think he is quite right. 1t seems
ut of place to apportion blame or praise
mong other nations. This is not the
ime or place to express sympathy for
ne side or the other. There is only one
uestion: Our relation to one of the
reat powers of the earth. The president
as taken action. | feel IL my duty to
upport him to the utmost of my power.
T, as we all pray, further differences
nay be avoided, one step is more impor-
ant than any other-to show that the
eople of the country are without d.
ision. II we exhibit division we exhibit
weakness which Is a tempta-
ion to those aggressions we seek to
void. NY hope is that personal feel
igs, personal and political enmities will
II be laid aside by all Americans. 1t IS
heir first duty to stand together and