Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-02-02
AND CABINET
HOLD LONG CONFERENCE
Situation Growing Out Of German Announcement Of New
Policy In Naval Warfare Is CaWased, But
Deci1ea Is Not Given


Wilson prepared to 20 to the capitol
late today 20 confer with Senator
Stone. chairman Of the senate tor
cign relations committee and other
senate leaders. following Q cabinet
session OF two hours and Is minutes.
The cabinet meeting adjourned at
<:45. II was the longest meeting that
has been held since the sinking OF
the Lusltania. While the administra-
ton is not giving advice" It was
stated after the cabinet meeting that
the administration feeling Is that ships
ought to postpone their sailings un-
I'll the full decision Of this govern
ment 10 made known.
The cabinet members were grave as
they walked to the door and got
into their carriages.
There was none OF the usual laugh
ter and pleasant exchanges among
themselves and with newspaper men
as the latter crowded about to gath
or any bit OF news or any nod Of the
head that might give an indication.
To the newspaper men all held up
their hands. and said:
We cannot ray word"
Secretary Lansing. however. said
probably there would not be any, an
nouncement tonight.
Al the White House. II was Of
.fcially announced that the president
and his cabinet today carefully can
vassed the situation In all respects
The president Is TO see Senator
Stone at 8 o'clock.
There is nothing to announce now
regarding any decision made or to be
made by this government" the state
ment from the White House said.
Washington. Feb. 2.--Strong Of
fcial hint that some announcement
OF this governments course with re-
gard to Germany's announced in
tentlon OF waging unrestricted sea
warfare may be looked for within "a
hours. came from the state depart
ment today.
Nothing has gone forward to Ger
many yet." was the only official def
mite statement forthcoming up to
noon.
The statement, however, that the
American Steamship Company might
be given instructions which It has re-
Quested as to permitting It's ships to
sail "by tomorrow" was taken to
mean that some course might be de-
termined by that time.
Such instructions could only be
given after this governments posi-
tion Is taken.
Today there is every indication that
President Wilson had not made up
his mind but was still struggling with
what officials openly admitted Is the
most serious situation this nation has
faced since the European war start
ed It's flood OF bloodshed across a
score Of countries. The oficlal state
ment quoted obviously meant that
the administration had not, at that
time, communicated In any way with
Ambassador Bernstorff since the Ger
man envoy had presented Germany's
note.
An announcement may come after
the cabinet goes into what probably
will be the most historic meeting
since the war with Spain this after
noon.
The cabinet meeting was set for
2:S0. Usually these meetings take
up from 80 minutes to an hour. The
one this afternoon was expected to
run we'll on toward evening.
Preceding the cabinet meeting.
President Wilson was booked with a
conference with Senator Stone. chair
man Of the foreign relations COM
mlttee, He has been In almost con-
stant conference with Colonel II. M.
House, his closest personal friend
and adviser. since the morning after