The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-03

After the President and the
canrn.t had been in session more
than two hours, Mr.. Wilson hur-
rico to the Capitol and this state
mint was ISSUED at the White
House:
The Presldea. ana the cSo-
iret t!:crolenIy canvassed the sit
uat,cn, bu- tners lS nothing 10
anrGuIce.
M-,npers cs the cabinet, sworn
tc silence, left the White House
wiki, crave fso.1. one 81 them 'et-
= ef sufficiently broke the rule OF
silence 70 say:
THE. nca- future will develop
som4t:airo very. very serious.'
NIocncr gave ) hlAS Of the prep
,5,,ity tia. sorcc overt act mI9ht
'he -yyai,eo - a. least warning
give by saying:
inc last chance has not yet
ac-ac. While Germany has an
i.cunced h.- purpose, she has not
yet carried il into encct, SO tar as
we know"
The cabinet L. .animously agreed,
hcu ever. that the UnItsd States
could under no cumsrarcSS
ccvntenancs such az INVASION OF
its r,ants IS Gernahys campaign
of rui:liessresS proposes
At the capitol, tn PRECEDENT had
an hours consersncc alone with
ssrstor SSons, chairman Of the
FOREIGN RelatiG-s CcSnrIittee, and
then sent out word that he sought
the views Of all sena.ors. Many OF
the Dcn,ccrats hurried to his room
on the Sc~ase floor. Seated there
with Sena,ors grouped about MN
in scmi-cfrcie, he Presiocnt
gave no indication. Of decision
of his own but frankly announced
he had come to hear their opIn-
ions. To induce open expressions,
he was careful -. to specify what
he had IN .,is own mind but inVit-
cd , discussion of three PROPOSE
tie;1s:
Three Propositions.
To break off diplomatic relations
with Germany at once and oellser.
Ambassador Von Berns.o, r. p"ss-
ports tomorrow.
act had been committed against
the riohts OF the United States.
TO Te.detine the position Of the
limited States. rs outlined all
THROUGH the submarine contro-
versy. with a final warning that an
otfense means = diplomatic break.
The sentiment Of large major:
ity Of the senators was against
the latter course.
Senator Stone and Senator Lewis
favored assuming that Germany
did not intend to invade Ameri-
can riqhts, but were for meeting
any such invasion with an lmme-
diate severance of relations.
Other senators were so conr1-
dent that Germany's new war zone
proclamation meant invasion OF
American rig hts that they faVorea
breaking off relations lmmedI-
ately.
All understood that President
Wilson had not made up his m'nd
whether to proceed, as proposed
by Senators Stone and Lewis. on
the assumption that American
rights would not be violated; or
whether to consider Germanys
announcement as ground IN ltseir
for summary action.
Without disclosing what decls-
ion, if any, he had reached, the
president leIt the CdPlIo' SeSSSst.
ina to senators that there should
be nights reflection and some
action by word or deed before
Monday.
It Was said that no joint session
OF congress tomorrow to enan nle
the president to make an aooress
was discussed.
During the day it had ben made
clear that no communication had
gone forward to Germany nor
had Ambassador Gerard been
given instructions to inform the
government Of the state OF feei-
ing in the United States. That
Of course, has been done through
the German embassy, which con-
tinues to express the firm con-
victlon. that there is little hope
Of avoiding diplomatic break.
Most Serious Crisis.
President Wilson's every action