Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1917-02-09
SENATORS FAVOR
BREAKING At ONCE
Tell Wilson Quick Action Should
be Taken With Germany.
WILL WRITE NO MORE LETTERS
Consider Giving Bernstorff His Pass
ports or Waiting Until Some Overt
Act is Committed.

When President Wilson left the capi
tol after two hours of conferences with
members Of the senate, one senator
who had talked with him said break
in diplomatic relations with Germany
practically was certain.
The capitol conference. which was
held to get the views of the senators
on the situation, followed a lengthy
cabinet meeting at which the crisis
was discussed.
The president himself told the news
papermen Cnly that he had come up
to swap views" and declined to say
whether anything would be done.
The president was asked if he con-
templated addressing congress. "Oh,
that was not discussed at ALL" he re-
piled.
"The president was very careful not
to state specifically what he had in
mind" said Senator Overman.
Senator Myers, of Montana, said
that the preponderance of sentiment
among the senators who talked with
the president was that the United
States should break off diplomatic re-
lations with Germany at once.
It is said the president left the con-
ference with the suggestion that there
should be a nights reflection and no
action by word or deed ordered be-
fore Monday.
Three propositions, it was said were
discussed in the conference. They
were:
"To break off diplomatic relations
with Germany and give Ambassador
Bernstorff his passports.
"To wait until some overt act had
been committed against the rights of
the United States by Germany before
taking action.
"To redefne this governments posi-.
tion in the light of Germany's ruthless
submarine campaign"
There was general discussion of all
these plans" said one senator "But
in my judgment the opinion Of the ma-
jority was to break relations at cnce
and give Bernstorff his passports"
Senator Fletcher said the president
had as yet done nothing, but came to
seek the advice of senators as to what
he should do. He said it was not clear
in the presidents mind whether the
American government should proceed
on the assumption that Germany, hav.
ing given pledges for restricted use OF
her submarines, would stand by those
pledges and not take any action until
, Germany violated them; or whether
summary action should be taken in
the face of note which announced at
four o'clock one day that Germany
would begin unrestricted warfare at
midnight.
Senator Fletcher said the sentiment
Of all present was that no more COM
munications should be sent to Ger
many, whatever course is pursued. He
said many senators favored breaking
off relations. but he added that 1t
would not be correct to say that the
majority favored it Immediately.
Formal announcement that the state
| department is not refusing to issue
D2SSpOrtS because Oh LIlG ne" HSl MA
war zone decree was made in an off,
| cial statement. This statement was
| issued:
"Tn order to correct an imnres@i"n
gathered from press reports th7t the
department Of state is recurring to s.
sue passports on account # the Ge~'
man declaration Of Jonn9ry 81, 1917
the department of st9tn w:shes to an
nounce that it is not declining to issue
passports to prospective travellers on
this ground, or any othe" grcu0d nc
heretofore governing the practice O.
! the department in the issuance OF
, passports
Soon after this announcement was
: issued Secretary Lansing decided in
reply to requests for advice from the
International Mercantile Marine that
he will ncti'y the company whether
he thinks Il better fer the American
liner St. Louis not to sail until the
issue is decided.