The Washington herald., 1917-03-08
LANSING URGES
ARMING OF SHIPS
DESPITE CAPITOL
President, However, Hesitates
to Act on His Own
Responsibility.
HAS AMPLE AUTHORITY
Attorney General Gregory. in Private
Decision. Declares Consent of Con-
gress Is Not Necessary.

Despite his determination to ann
american merchant ships to brave the
herman submarine zone, and protect
american rights at sea, President Will
son tonight still withheld his decision to
act upon his own responsibility
while no announcement was forthcom-
ing it was known that the legal and
diplomatic advisers of the President had
definitely decided that under the constI-
tuition the Chief Executive has the neces-
sary authority TO put guns and gunners
aboard American vessels
But the formal announcement Of the
decision, and the formal orders for action
were withheld while Republican and
Democratic forces in the Senate agreed
on limitation on Senate debate which
would clear the way for a bill granting
fun armed neutrality authority to the
| president. II an extra session Is called
Two courses were open to the President
last night in the matter Of arniny
american ships One was immediate ac-
tlon on his own authority. which he orig
inally questioned. but which has now
been upheld by his closest advisehs, and
by Congressional leaders. The second
was to wait until the Senate cloture rule
Is adopted. and then call an extraordinary
session of the SiXty-Fifth Congress with
the practical certainty that complete au-
thority will be forthcoming promptly and
ungrudgingly.
The President discussed both courses
with Cabinet members and with Con-
sressional leaders. 1t was made known,
that no move will be made until TODAY,
Has Authority, Says Gregory.
From Attorney General Gregory the
President received an opinion which sus-
tained the contention that the President
has all needed ofrfhnr1f,- 80
can lives and rights at sea. The Attor-
ney General. it was understood. held that
the authority conferred by the Constitu-
ion could not be changed or diminished
by limitations imposed in statutes passed
at any time. and that statutes attempting
TO limit that authority were unconstftu-
uonal The opinion was not made public
After going over the Attorney Generals
opinion the President conferred at length
with various Senate leaders on the cloturc
situation in the upper house He then
called in Secretary Lansing who for an
hour went over all of the details of the
proposal to arm ships and all of the de-
Velopments which might follow such a
step Secretary Lansing ii was learned.
Is impatient for the President to take i'm
mediate action. He believes aggressive
and immediate action is imperative to
vindfcate the position OF the United States
Win IOIelSn nauOnS. ana TO demonstrate
that American commerce cannot be
barred from the seas.
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels was
ready last night to move at once to arm
merchant ships. 1t was stated that with
in an hour after the President issues the
order the naval machinery at New York.
Boston. and Philadelphia will he in mo-
ton putting guns and gunners aboard the
merchant vessels in those points There
is a growing conviction that the orders
will be forthcoming within a very short
time.
Must Reply to Austria.
The ultimate decision to arm American
ships Is expected to bring to a head the
dragging negotiations with Austria The
tone Of the last Austrian statement on
the submarine issue was so conciliatory
that administration officials believe that
reply will be necessary in order to
avoid placing the United States in the
position Of forcing a break. The Aus
trian note was very clear, however, on
the point that the dual monarchy will
sink without warning merchant ships
which are armed, and If American ves-
sells put to sea carrying naval guns and
gunners, the break with Austria is Deem
ed inevitable.