The sun., 1917-02-20
President Is Unwilling to
Invite Hostile Action by
Germany.
AMERICAN RIGHTS ON
SEA THE MAIN ISSUE
Diplomats Believe Wilson
Has Not Swerved From
His Decision.
PACIFISTS EXPRESS
RENEWED OPTIMISM
Hope That Abatement Of
U-Boat Campaign Will
Avert Clash.

w Il Cb. lS. IcSluchS
Wilson made his first move to-day
since the diplomatic break with Ger
many to lessen the tension in this
country over the probability Of war.
He not only changed his mind about
going before Congress to-day or to-
morrow. as he told Senate Administra-
tion leaders on Saturday he would do.
but he made it known that he did not
at present contemplate such a step.
Whether this means that he will
take no such action before the end of
the session was not disclosed. Some
Senators were of the opinion that the
President would appear before Con-
gress before the week was over, but
admitted they had not been taken into
the Presidents confidence in the mat
ter.
The effect OF the news from tho
White House was to open up a whole
series of conjectures as to what had
happened. Whether or not it meant
that the President was wavering or
Congress had deferred the Administra-
, ton were questions at once raised but
unanswered by anything Forthcoming
from the White House.
Situation Less Critical.
The situation meantime eased off per-
ceptibly. There were reports that a new
policy was to be initiated by the Presi-
uenf to the orici a,,A xhu&
the watchful waiting Mexican plan was
to be again put into effect. The belief
was plainly expressed in some quarters
that the President felt the apparent luIl
In the German U-boat destruction cam
paign in the war zone might provide n
ray of hope for readjusting matters by
means OF renewed patience and the
elimination Of all elements which might
jar Teuton sensitiveness
As a matter of fact many unjustifled
, interpretations were doubtless put on
! the Presidents move for there appears
Tonight to be no proof that he is waver-
Ing or less determined to insist upon
protection for American rights on the
high seas. but the slight indecision OF
to-day Immediately opened the door to
officials Of pronounced pacific tendencies,
| including members of the Presidents
official family, who pictured the Ger
man crisis In rosy hues and discounted
the gravity of the main issue. They
left II uncertain, however, as to how
( much or how little OF these views the
President himself entertained.
The question raised in the minds OF
many was whether the President stands
squarely behind Secretary Lansng's an
nounced determination that the Admin
istration will protect American rights
even to the extent Of going to war or
whether he is permitting the main issue
to be relegated to secondary importance
and is seeking encouragement in some
of the Incidental side issues which have
cropped up since the U-boat blockade
went into effect.
In Accord With Lansing.
! Diplomats generally say that the
President, regardless OF what certain
| Of his advisers say, is almost certainly
. working In complete accord with his
Secretary Of state in this critical situa-
! tion. bat they admit that the country
/ is placed Tn very unfortunate light by
having delicate State Department busi-
{ ness interpreted by other Cabinet Of
fcers at this time.
The situation. according TO these
interpretations, Is better than II ha.
been for two weeks The lull in the
u-boat campaign was cited among the
! the American liner Philadelphia had
/ passed through the war zone unharmed,
that Germany had agreed TO release
the seventy-two American sailors OF
+ the Yarrowdale and that the American
relief expedition was to be permitted to
continue its work in Belgium.
, TT looks as II things We're going 70
come out all right after ALL" was the
comment of one Cabinet official after
summarizing these indications.
Though Secretary Lansing Will not
discuss any phase OF the situation. Il
can readily be seen that statements OF
this nature are distinctly jarring to him
J They show that the officials making
them are losing sight Of the main issue
over which the United States Is now
/ ready to use Its armed forces II neces-
, sary rather than surrender to Germany
The Main Issue.
This is whether or not Germany can
! deny with impunty to American citizens
, their right to pursue their peaceful and
legitimate errands ON the high seas
Germany announces that she intends to
do 1t. and is making effective her an
| nouncement despite the severance OF dip
lomatic relations and the warning Of
President Wilson that he would use force
IL necessary to safeguard those rights
From the point OF view OF the United
| States Government there can be no COM
promise or Improvement in the situation
| so long as Germany maintains her illegal
| submarine blockade In contravention OF
American rights. When and how the
physical clash between German U-boat
] commanders and American citizens