The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-02-03
Aef.p.
SITUATION GRAVE
BREAK SEEMS ONLY A MATTER OF
WOURS-PRESIDENT AND SEN.
ATORS IN HISTORIC
MEETING.
Answer to Germany Waits Decision ~
OF Whether Action Should Be De-
layed Pending Overt Act or
Passports Given to Won
Bernstorff I'm.
medlately.

BernstOrn I'm.
medlately.
Washington, February 1.-THE sub
marine menace sweeps on and every
bour draws the United States nearer
break with Germany
No restraining developments appear
to stem the tide. Official Washington
Is convinced the crash Is only mat
ter of time and a question of forms.
A long session Of the cabinet and q
dramatic night meeting Of the Presi'
dent and the Senator's at the capitol
developed a unanimity Of opinion that
a challenge to the honor of the United
States must be met
The means of doing so appears te
be the only question undetermined
When President Wilson and his ad-
visers parted "for a nights reflection,
as the President himself put 1t, ap-
parently it had not been determined
whether the United States should de-
lay action until Germany commits an
overact, or whether passports should
be handed to Count Won Bernstorfi
with or without warning note tc
British.
White House Statement
After the President and the cabinet
had been in session more than two
hours, Mr.. Wilson hurried to the cap
itol and this statement was issued at
the White House:
"The President and the cabinet
thorouhly canvassed the situation, but
there is nothing to announce.
Members of the cabinet, sworn to
silence, left the White House with
grave farces. One of them later suf-
ficiently broke the rule Of silence to
say:
The near future will develop some
thing very. very serious"
Another gave a hint Of the proba-
bility that some overt act might be
awaited or at least warning given
by saying:
"The last chance has not yet gone
While Germany has announced her
purpose, she has not yet carried it in.
to effect so far as We know"
The cabinet unanimously agreed,
however, that the United States could
under no circumstances conlenance
such an invasion of its rights as Ger
many's campaign of ruthlessness pro.
poses.
Seeks Views Of All Senators
At the Capitol the President had ar
hours conference alone with Senator
Stone, chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, and then sent out
word that he sought the views of al
Senator's.
Many of the Democrats hurried t
his room on the Senate floor. Seated
there with Senators grouped about
him in semi-circle, the President
gave no indication of a decision o.
his own, but frankly announced hi
had come to hear their opinions Tt
induce open expressing, he was care
full not to specify what he had in hi!
own mind, but invited discussion o.
three propositions:
To break off diplomatic relations
with Germany at once and deliver
Ambassador Won Bernstorff passports
: tomorrow.
To delay action until some overt ac
has been committed against the rights
of the United States.
To re-define the position of the
United States, as outlined all through
the submarine controversy, with a
final warning that an offense means 6
diplomatic break.
The sentiment of large majority
of the Senators was against the latter
course.
Senator Stone and Senator Lewis
, favored assuming that Germany dit
, not intend to invade American rights
. but were for meeting any such inva
sion with an immediate severance o.
relations. Other Senators were Sc
confident that Germanys new wal
zone proclamation meant invasion o
American rights that they favored
breaking off relations Immediately.
. Wilson Is Undecided
All understood that President vii
son had not made up his mind wheth
er to proceed as proposed by Senators
Stone and Lewis, on the assumption
that American rights would not b,
violated; or whetheh to consider Ger
many's announcement as ground II
itself for summary action.
Without disclosing what decision, /
any, he had reached, the President lef
the Capitol suggesting To Senator
that there should be a nights reflec
ton and some action by word or dee
before Monday.
q II was said that no Joint session o
Congress tomorrow to enable tn
Z President to make an address wa
discussed.
During the day It had been mad