Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-03
Washington Gables Reply of
Allies Rejecting Proposals
of Central Powers for Con-
ference to End War,
REPUBLICANS REFUSE
TO RUSH ENDORSEMENT
Hitchcock Resolution Com
ding Administrations
Effort to End War Cannot
Be Passed at Once.

tsy MORNING JOURNAL sPsc,s. tsAsEc wiRu
Washington, Jan. 2.-The entente
reply rejecting the peace proposal of
the central powers was cabled by
the state department today for pre-
sentatton to Germany and the other
jbelllgerent governments, whose dip
lomatic interests the United States
represents at allied capitals. To save
time, the cabled English transla-
ton was dispatched from here and
Ambassador Sharp was instructed to
forward the French text direct from
Paris.
| 1t was stated authoritatively to-
day that President Wilson had not
decided what, If any further move in
the interest of peace he might make,
but was keeping an open mind on
the subject while waiting for the
cntente's answer to his note propos-
ing a discussion of terms by the
belligerents. No official comment
was forthcoming from press reports
from Paris indicating that the
reply to the president, in effect,
would be the same as that given the
central powers.
Senate Discusses Situation.
| Discussion of the advisability of
Legislative action approving the
course of the president in sending
his note occupied the senate for
more than an hour and will be re-
sumed tomorrow. Action was de-
layed by unanimous consent, because
republican senator's insisted that the
question was too important to be
disposed of hastily and should be
considered by the foreign relations
Icommittee.
Interest ATTACHED to stasxements
during debate by Senator Stone,
chairman Of the foreign relations COM
imittee, who had an hours conference
yesterday with President Wilson. In
| this connection administration offic-
ials took pains to make clear that the
president did not seek action by con-
| gress though of course he would not
like to see a proposal to endorse his
policy defeated.
! The discussion began when Senator
Hitchcock's resolution to approve the
note, introduced just before the holi
day recess automatically came be-
| fore the senate for consideration.
Democratic leaders, including Senator
Stone, urged that the resolution should
| be passed without delay, and prolong-
ed debate in order that the presidents
position might be given approval by
q coordinate branch of the govern
ment, which has authority in interna-
tional affairs.
Senator Lodge. ranking republican
member of the foreign relations com
mittee Senator Gallinger, the minor
| ity leader, Senator Borah and other
Republican senators vigorously insisted
that Senator Hitchcock consent to let
the matter go to the foreign relations
TontN fnr
They did not oppose the purpose of
the resolution, but expressed the view
that the proposed action was fraught
with such international importance
that it should be acted upon without
very careful consideration of all
| phases of the war situation and not
until senate committee had oppor-
tunity to study the exchanges of bel
| ligerent and neutral governments,
which have followed the original T'eu-
tonic note to the entente allies, sug-
gesting discussion of peace.
Thorough Debate Likely.
There were strong intimations to-
night that the republicans will insist
upon thorough debate if Senator
| Hitchcock persists tomorrow in his
! demand for vote without reference
| to committee. Such a discussion, 1t
was pointed out tonight, might lead
| to another general debate on the Eu-
ropean war situation, such as char
acterized the controversy at the last
session of congress over the right OF
American citizens to travel on armed
ships of belligerents.
! Senator Stone declared that the
simple question involved in the issue
was whether the senate should en-
| dorse movement calculated to open
! the way for bringing about peace in
| Europe. For the senate to hesitate,
now that the resolution confronted 1t,
he said would destroy the moral eff
feet of the proposed endorsement upon
the nations at war.
Republican Position.
Views of many republican senator's
were eptomized by Senator Lodge,
who declared the resolution opened UP
a very large, grave and important
subject
II trust" he added, that it will be
realized that this thing cannot be
rusned through, involving as it does
our relations to all the world"
A. resolution similar to that of Sem
ator Hitchcock was introduced in the
house by Representative McKellar OF
Tennessee, and referred, without dis
cussion, to the foreign affairs commit
tee.
1t was stated at the state depart
ment that no more neutral countries
had replied to the presidents note, and
that, though copies were sent to all
the South American republics for their
information, none of them had felt it
necessary to reply in any way.
Congratulatory and optimistic tele
grams from abroad were received to-
day from the Swedish League for the
Democracy of Justice, the Central
Board of the Social Democratic Wom |
ems Association of Stockholm. the
congress of Belgian socialist workmen
in Holland, the Swedish section of the I: