Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-03
Holds Long Conference With
Cabinet and Then Goes to
Capitol to Exchange Views
With Senators,
BERNST0RFF LIKELY TO
GET PASSPORTS TODAY
Officials and Lawmakers Are
United in Opinion That Time
for Negotiations Has Now
Passed.

t5Y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LsAsEp wIRnI
Washington Feb. 1.-THE subma-
rine crisis swept out toward the point
of action, yet unannounced, but with
every indication of far reaching deci-
sions at todays cabinet meeting at
which members agreed the United
States could not brook such in
reference with American rights as is
threatened by the German declaration.
President Wilson. after comforting
with the cabinet more than two hours.
hurried to the capitol to confer with
Chairman Stone of the foreign rela-
tions committee, whom he previously
had promised to consult before break
ing off diplomatic relations.
All the cabinet members, sworn to
secrecy refused to discuss the session.
one gave an intimation of its nature
by saying;
The very near future will develop
something very, very serious"
The only announcement from the
White House was contained in this
tlrief staienrnnt:
/ "fhe president and The cabinet
| Thoroughly canvassed the situation,
but there is nothing to announce
Secretary Lansing. In reply to re-
quests for advice from the Internal
IlOldl VIII nOllIy
the company he thinks It better for
the American liner st. Louis not to
sail tomorrow or until the issue is de-
cded.
To Sever Diplomatic Relations.
1t was believed on every hand that
the cabinet had decided there was
nothing else to do than sever diplo-
matte relations.
The president was asked il he con-
templated addressing congress.
"Oh, that was not discussed at all"
The president was very careful not
to state specifically what he had in
mind, said Senator Overman.
Senator Fletcher said the president
had as yet done nothing, but came to
seek advice of senators as to what he
should do. He said it was not clear
in the presidents mind whether the
American government should proceed
on the assumption that Germany, hav-
ing given pledges Of restricted use of
her submarines, would stand by those
pledges and not take any action until
Germany violated them; or whether
summary action should be taken IN
the face of note which announced
at 4 o'clock one day that Germany
would begin unrestricted warfare at
midnight.
No More Letters to Germany.
Senator Fletcher said the sentiment
oa all present was that no more COM
municattons should be sent to Ger
many. whatever course Is pursued.
He said many senators favored break
ing off relations, but he added that it
would not be correct to say that the
ma iority favored it Immediately.
Three propositions, it was said, wers
discussed in the conference. They
were: To break off diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany and give Ambas-
sador Bernstorff his passports tomor-
row.
TO wait until some overt act had
been committed against the rights of
the United States by Germany before
taking any action.
To e-define this governments po-
sition in the light of Germany's ruth
less submarine campaign.
To Act Before Monday.
An hour after the presidents con-
ference with senators at the capitol. a
senator said the president had left
them with the suggestion that there
should be nights reflection and ac-
ton by word or deed before Monday.
II was learned that Senator Stone.
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, and Senator Lewis of Illinois,
felt no immediate breach with Ger
many would be justified: that the
course to be taken was to stand on the
assumption that Germany did not in
tend to imperil American citizens or
property, but that the very first act
against the United States should be
the signal for the rupture.
There was general discussion of
all these plans" said another senator.
But in my Judgment the opinion of
the majority was to break relations at
once and give Bernstorff his passports
tomorrow"
Crisis Most Serious.
President Wilson's every action
throughout the day was predicated on
his belief that the United States faces
the most serious crisis in it's histors.
He chose the course of seeking the
advice of other men to compare with
his own opinions The overwhelming
sentiment from those he consulted
was in favor of q break in relations.
Only the time and method were ques-
tons of difference. But even after
his long talk with the senator's, he re-
turned to the White House to give fur
ther consideration to the problem.
One of the thoughts in the minds