The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-02-02
Decision
to Come
Soon
BY ROBERT ]. BENDER

United Pr-s- EtaY Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. a.
Strong official hint that some
announcement OF this govern
ment's course with regard to
Germany's announced inten
ton of waging unrestricted
sea warfare, may be looked
for within "a hours. came
from the state department to-
day.
Nothing has gone forward
to Germany yet" was the
only definite statement forth
coming up to noon.
Wilson's Step Brisk
President Wilson came from the
White House to his executive OF
flee and entered the cabinet room
shortly after 2;30 p. m.
At that hour. Secretaries Lane.
Redfield. Baker and Postmaster
General Burleson arrived. Secre
tary Lansing Reached the White
House a few moments later and
the balance of the cabinet soon fol-
lowed.
The president took with him an
envelope. Ia which may be the text
OF his decision 20 be considered by
the cabinet he walked down the
hall into the cabinet room with n
brisk step. but greeted his advisers
solemnly.
No cabinet members would dis
cuss the situation in any way upon
entering the scssiou.
Wilson Has Hard Problem
The statement. however. that the
American Steamship. line might be
given instructions which II has re-
quested "a 10 permitting It's ships to
sail by tomorrow" was taken To
mean some course might be deter
mined upon by that time.
Such instructions could only be
given after this governments posi-
tion Is taken.
To-day there is every Indication
that President Wilson had not made
up his mind. but was still strug
Cling with what officials admitted
is the most serious situation that
this nation has faced since the war
started It's flood OF bloodshed across
a score OF countries.
Cabinet to Meet
The official statement quoted OBJ
viously meant that the administrs.
tion had not. at that time, commun.
icated With Ambassador Won Bern
storff since the envoy presented
Germanys announcement OF her
new order.
An announcement may come after
the cabinet goes into what will
probably be the most historic meet.
ing since the war with Spain to
day.
The meeting was set for 2 30.
Usually these meetings take from
30 minutes 10 an hour. The one
this afternoon was expected TO run
we'll on toward evening.
The definite statement that
nothing has gone forward to
Germany yet" was made by the
state department today rela-
tive 10 the present German
American crisis.
The stormy and uncertain hours
OF past crises with Germany were
being repeated. but with even
greater tension. az tho country
awaited the presidents decision.
The governments course Of action
appeared 10 be limited TO two
Numerically opposed lines.
Break or Pacification7
Authorities said the president
may follow the strictly legal and
logical course demanded as nat
ural sequence TO this country's dip
lomatic negotiations with Germany
| This would mean a break.
But, disregarding precedent, he
may launch an entirely new doc
trinc OF neutrality. urging the pa
tience. sacrifice and concession
from the country that he has asked
OF the belligerents In order to hold
the United States free TO administer
what he has termed the greater
service to mankind"
Which course he will choose. no
one knew early today. The presi
dent himself shows plainly the ef
feet OF hours of study and worry
In attempting to find a solution Of
the problem.
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