The sun., 1917-03-02
Senate Committee Chair
man Hints England Gave
Information.
q. y. p. MEN RALLY
TO HELP WILSON
Fall. Once Severe Critic,
Says He Will Stand by
Executive.

WASHINGTON, March 1.--Congress
was stirred to it's depths to-day by the
Zimmerman note laying bare the de-
signs Of Germany to involve the United
States in "A war with Japan and Mexico.
1t became at once the chief topic Of
discussion and led to immediate action
in the Senate. which requested that
the President lay before It whatever
information he had on the subject.
provided It was not incompatible with
the public interest.
This action was not taken, however.
until the Presiden. had been severely
criticised even by senators OF his own
party for the method taken in giving this
matter to the public, some Senators tak-
ing the view that with such information
in his possession the President should at
least have laid it before the Foreign Re-
lations Committee of the Senate before
allowing II TO become public:
After four hours OF heated debate In
which insinuations were made that the
President or some one in official author
ity had given out the note to the press
for the purpose of "infiaming the coun-
try" the Senate adopted resolution
suggested by Senator Hoke Smith which
was in the nature Of compromise. IL
| was as follows:
| Resolved. That the President he
requested to furnish TO the Senate
q. at.s.. Ian
cerning the note published In the
| press Of this date purporting to have
been sent January 10, 1917. by the
German Secretary for Foreign AZ
. fairs to the German Ambassador III
Mexico which in his opinion is not
! incompatible with the public inter-
| ests.
| This resolution was substitute Tor
ono reported this afternoon ana which III
turn was n substitute tor one senator
Lc,eke introduced soon after the senate
met to-day, which was referred 10 the
Foreign Relations Committee
stone Against Resolution.
Senator Hitchcock reported out the
substitute. This was because chairman
Stone was opposed TO the resolution ana
offered an amendment to 1t on the moor
of the Senate prnvidine that the Presi'
dent advise the Senate whether the m
formation in his possession respectine
the letter signed 'Zimmermann' originated
with or was derived from any Govern,
ment or the official OF any Government
engaged in the present war ana II sc
inform the Senate OF the facts"
In submitting the amendment Senator
Stone informed the Senate that ne nat
asked Senator Hitchcock to make the re
aQ mol
in favor of the resolution in the form hi'
committee had reported It. SO bitte'
were Senator stones comments on I'M
Administration that both Senator Fall
Republican, and Senator SALISBURY
peinoc attic President pro TEN. ana
member Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, felt impelled to rebuke him.
Senator Fail said that he had neve
heard such insinuatlons against TN
= President OF the United states, ana de
clared that they were unparalleled ex
cen, nv the things said at the time OF th'
) impeachment Of Andrew johnson ant
! when Charles Sumner attacked Presiden
Grant.
, Fall Hs n, mers Democrats.
, Senator Fall. who has developed from
one OF the most bitter and unrelentini
, critics Of the Presidents Mexican polio
into one OF his most effective defender
, In the Senate on the German situation
/ chastiscd the Democratic side. and de
. clared that the President. finding that h
v could not command the support of hi
marty followers In Congress had nnall
= appealed to the people through the press
v the only way in which he could reac
I them. to arouse sentiment that woul
. compel that allegiance which UP to til
present time had been denied him by hi
= party followers In the international Sit
= uation.
= Replying, Senator Stone hurled de
: fance at his critics. ridiculed Senate
( Lodge and declared that the Prestden
d had more respect for men like himsel
i who told tho Chief Executive what h
= honestly thought. than for those VIII
: came with fattery and in the sycophanti
: fashion to lind out first what the Pres
dent desired so they could agree wit
him,
The chief feature of the debate wa
:, Senator stones bitter attack on the stat
u Department by inference. Another fef
v ture was Senator O'Gorman's declaratio
Fl. that there was n pro- Ally propaganda
the United states, Senator Hardwicl
- Georgia. also appeared In the role Z
~ , critic of the President and the stat
Department, and expressed regret that
~ the President ndu SUCH ltiloTiihtioH I
=. the press reports credited him with ha'
-, ing he had not seen fit to give 1t to II
70 senate instead Of to the newspapers"
n, objects 10 wilson's Course.
,c He could at least have called In Il
IN members of the Foreign Relations Coz
C. mittee and talked the matter over wi
Or them instead. of scattering 1t broadca
!p over the country through the press" sa
rs Hardwick.
I'd Senator Thomas and Senator Ho
n Smith also showed a disposition to NJ
ed fault with the way in which the matt
It, had been allowed to get to the public.
l Senator Lodges resolution introduc
o" at the opening Of the session was
follows.
Sc "Res0lrcd, That the President be :
auested to inform the Senate whether t
note signed 'Zimmermann' published
~ Co~ttn~sd on Third PoSe.