New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-24

as farseeing statesman ne rehIiIr'
how defenceless America stands. nc
sees there Is little opportunity IN inc
present state OF the public nina ~
bring about anything like adequate 'ril'
itary defence. ~
So much for the Entente and tho
friendly American view of the present
situation. The Germans look IN more
or less amazcment. They do not alto
gether understand, but so far they see
everything is happening as they would
have IL happen. %
Recall Minsterbcrg's Words
They would. in the interests of their
peace drive, keep alive the present
neace move at all costs. President VII
son is keeping il alive for them Inc
Germans arc inclined 10 place grea!
credence in the cutting remarks wnich
Hugo MGnsterberg made about Fresl
dent Wilson. "Once the President WORKS
himself into tho idea Of being arDi
traitor Of the world wrote Munster
berg. "he will be so intoxicated by the
10Y OF playing an historic part that ne
will give himself up to II with MS
whole soul and without rest" The Ger
mans hope Mdnsterberg was right
They think the description has been
horne out so far.
There apparently is no basis Tor the
suspicion rife in Washington that the
President I'm his statement OF terms OF
peace was in reality performing a
secret service for the Germans and was
stating for them the terms on when
they would make peace. H. has been
intimated many times here that the
President was in the possession OF Sc
cree German peace terms. To-day ~
was stated with authority at the White
House that no German terms had been
received.
As stated in the address to the Sem
ate. il is the Presidents belief that
peace cannot be long postponed. and
that 1T will be a drawn war" MS
selection Of the present moment as the
auspicious ore in which TO launch ms
personal campaign 20 wean the Amer
lean people from thei. traditional pol
icy Of isolation was made after much
delibcration In his mind the time rs
at hand when the government Of the
United States must choose.
Stone Blocks Cummins
There was little opportunity for talk
about the Cummins resolution in the
Senate to-day. for debate ceased as
soon as Mr.. Cummins insisted on its
laying over until tomorrow in order
TO keep il from the clutches of Sem
ator Stones committee There was no
doubt how the Administration Sem
ators felt about it, however. Senator
Stone said:
THE idea OF wasting a week in idle
debate about a question which is not
properly before the Senate at all, and
listening TO a lot of Senators. consum-
ing an hour each to give the President
of the United States advice, is intol-
cradle"
isn't the resolution just what the
President wants ?" he was asked
Didn't the President come up here to
obtain some sort of expression from
the Senator"
81 don't know as to that" said Mr.
Stone. "He has not said so TO me
But this resolution ought never to have
been introduced. ! wouldn't mind Sem
ators making speeches at any reason
able length IL il were not that the Sem
ate simply has not the time to give to
this question"
Calls Senator's Talk "Drivel"
Just what does the President want
The Senate to do ?" he was asked.
"Ask the President. He has not
talked 20 me about it. As | see it,
there is. nothing definite which he has
asked the Senate TO do. Certainly
nothing is properly before the Senate
/ Why waste time on drivel about what
various Senators Think"
Senator Cummins, on the other hand
thought the Senate would be commit
ting a serious act OF omission should
/ it permit the President TO outline e
| the world an idea of what the United
/ States wanted TO accomplish in the
way of international relations without
/ in some way conveying the ideas OF The
| Senators with regard 10 the plan.
Such course of silence, he said
would seriously embarrass the Senat'
should the President at some time II
the future submit TO it treaty com
& hitting the United States 70 some sucl
league Of nations as the President out
lined and ask that the treaty be rati
fed. The President would then be abl
to say to the Senate, Mr.. Cummins be
lieves. that il had virtually given IL
approval by silence when he informed
Senators what he desired to do in hi
address