The Washington herald., 1917-03-29
WILSON DECIDES
ON WAR POLICY;
COL. HOUSE AIDS
President Maps Out Admins
tration Plan. Pending
Session Opening.
JOINT RESOLUTION SEEN
Congress Expected to Set Forth Fact
that War with Germany
Exists.

With every agency OF government rob
Ing resistlessly toward complete prepared-
ness for impending war. President WI
son and his advisers last night devoted
themselves TO the task Of fixing the sd-
ministration policy to be submitted 20
Congress in extraordinary session next
week
While the White House was shrouded
IN secrecy, and the President made no
announcement. administration ofncials
declared that immediate and decisive ac-
uon has been decided upon. The sole
question now remaining Is what form
mat action shall take. and how Il shall
De taken. The exact form Of the rec
concentrations which the President viii
make TO Congress in his war address were
considered yesterday as Col Z. NJ House,
the Presidents closest adviser went over
the international situation in detail with
the Chief Executive.
Last. there was a general feeling IN ad-
ministration circles that the German
crisis will be disposed Of BY a Joint reso-
iuuon OF Congress neciting the German
violations of American rights, ana de-
ciar1ng that these violations have brought
about the existence of a state Of var
between the two nations Theres fter rha
activities Of the Congress will be de-
voted TO placing at the Presidents dis
posal all OF the means and authority nee
essary to the successful prosecution of
hostilitiet
Leaders Confer.
Active steps to meet the Presidents rec
concentrations when they are made were
taken by conferences Of CongressIon.I
readers Chairman Flood OF the House
Foreign Affairs Committee ana ofher
Democratic members Of the conmitte.
made an exhaustive digest Of former var
oeciarauons. and framed a tentative reso-
iuton declaring the existence OF a state
OF war The Congressional leaders de-
are expounded. action 81 Congress viii
De prompt and effective. They took up
In conference the problem Of furnishing
the "sinews Of war" The FIRST routine
business to be taken up will be the pss
sage OF the army appropriation bill
which failed in the casing days of the
last sesnon- II would provide 81. .0oc ooo
as framed in the last session, but ener-
gency additions made necessary by the
events OF the past few weeks and the
dire possibilities Of the future, will bring
the total up TO probably double thar
amount.
The mobilization Of the financial re-
sources Of the nation to prepare for i'm
pending war will be taken UP by the
soon as the House Is organized. PresI-
dent Wilson and his advisers are at work
on a financial program which has not
been definitely fixed. but which may
finally include the extension Of American
credit to the entente allies, while the
United States Is making ready for ac-
tual participation in the war, II II be-
comes a belligerent Treasury Depart
ment ofhcials and financial experts in
Congress declared that the country is
financially more prosperous than ever be-
fore in its history and that the only
problem before the administration 10 thu
effective use Of the great money re-
sources OF the nation
Attitude Made Clear.
The attitude Of the administration to-
ward the present state OF affairs be-
tween this country and Germany was
made clear at the State Department.
Secretary Lansing said that inquiries
had been dispatched some time ago TO
neutral nations OF the world, asking what
their attitude would be toward Ameri-
can armed merchant ships entering their
ports. He explained that this inquiry
was not sent to determine what the neu-
trail attitude would be to American armed
ships during the present status OF armed
neutrality. He made the significant state
ment that the neutrals were asked 10
declare their attitude toward American
armed merchant vessels II the United
States should become q beIligerent.
In this same connection Il was stated
that Congress had been called to Wash
ington, not to express its views on the
situation. but to receive the views Of the
administration and to act upon them II
was made clear that q definite and az
gressive program will be laid before the
representatives Of the people, and i'm
mediate action will be demanded