The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-03-01
SENATE is TOLD
PLOT REPORT is
ABSOLUTELY TRUE
Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
Senators Reed and Hardwick OBJ
jected to hasty passage of the Lodge
resolution and had it re-read.
Senator Lodge declared that when
"a great news gathering association
like the Associated Press put forward
seriously and solemnly what purports
to be a dispatch from the secretary
of foreign affairs of Germany invit-
ing Mexico and Japan to unite to
make war on the United States, it
was time the Congress and the people
should be informed Of the natter
While Senator Swanson was assur-
ing Mr.. Lodge that he was authorized
to state that the announcement by
the Associated Press was correct,
full confirmation was being given Of
ficiaIly at the White House and state
department.
Senator Hardwick Of Georgia,
Democrat, objected to immediate con-
sideration of the Lodge resolution
and other Senators urged him to
withdraw it.
Senator Works, Republican, of Cal
ifornia, argued that it should be
adopted.
"It is exceedingly important said
he, "that we have explicit informa-
ton whether the President, at the
time he asked Congress to confer ex-
traordinary powers on him, knew OF
these conditions as disclosed in the
newspapers. If the President had the
information at that time it was due
Congress and the people Of the
United States that he should lay be-
fore Congress all of the circumstances
that might affect the action of Con-
gress. Congress is dealing with that
situation and we should have all the
information before taking any steps,
Senator Reed deplored what he said
appeared to be criticism of the pres
ident, although Senator Lodge dis
claimed any intention to embarrass
him.
81 hope that at this Moment, which
to me appears to be a very solemn
one" Senator Reed said, 1--WE will
not have any more manifestations OF
dispositions to criticise the president
Let us criucise no one by any kind OF
inference. This is time wheI
American should close their ranks
and face one way and respond to one
sentiment. I hope that will be DONE
IT am very deeply impressed with
the gravity of the situation" said
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Colo
RADIO. I'VE are confronted with q
crisis that may be very serious. III is
a coincidence that the, Associated
Press publication comes when the
Senate is considering the army and
navy bills.
But if this letter from the German
foreign minister is authentic, and II
ginia, we should know il and know
1T now. I hope the resolution of the
senator from Massa chusetts will be
acted upon and am sure the presi-
dent will respond to it. There may
be reasons for not giving the in
formation, II incompatible with the
public interest.
1.-THE fact is the Associated Press
has given this entire story to the pub
lie with what seems to be a most i'm
portant document 1t is probably
authentic"
Senator Lodge said he cared little
regarding the form OF his resolution.
Nothing is further from my mind
than to suggest criticism Of the Pres
ident,'' said he. 1--WE ought to have
this information-the people ought to
have ito know whether the docu-
ment is true or not If we are to get
together we ought to have that fact.
II have every reason to believe that
the inquiry is not distasteful to the
President. We must not act on news
paper reports and we ought to have
the official information
1.-THE President is asking great
powers. For one I think we ought
to give it to him And we ought to
have this Information in that con-
nection.,
Senator Pomerene, Democrat, OF
Ohio, said that, in addition to the
Associated Press dispatches, the SEN
ate had the statement of Senator
Swanson that the Zimmerman dis
patch was authentic
Substantially correct interjected
Senator SWANSON
IF there is any variance, we ought
to know that fact" returned Senator
Pomerene 1.-THE resolution amply
protects the President permittin
him to give the information If COM
patible with public interests. We all
realize the gravity of the situation I
want the most explicit information
before acting in matter which may
be SO grave in it's consequences
After carefully reading the resolu-
ton, Senator Stone, chairman of the
foreign relation committee, said:-
t'It seems to me that the resolution
ought to go to the committee on for
eign relations Here Is a newspaper
report that the secretary Of foreign
relations Of the German government
has sent the German am bassador in
Washington certain letter which, ap-
pears In the morning papers. We are
not informed as to the source. We
have no facts on which to determine
our dgnent as to the resolutions ac-
curacy.
There may be information in the
hands of the state department of a
nature that it might not
be thought compatible with public in
terest to reveal. Then again, this al
legged dispatch may not be true.
sThere may be something behind all
this that we do not know about. 1t
seems to me in the exigencies of this
moment it is the part Of prudence and
sound judgment to proceed deliberate