Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-15
DANIELS PICTURES
SCENES At FATEFUl
CABINET MEETING
Continued from page l

Al intimated in my first article.
.no ,axv was ready for mobilization
~i,hin "a hours after Bernstorn had
asliyered his U-boat ultimatun-in ei-
fact a was that--to the State Depart
,,.nt The word had gone TO every
,hip and station on Thursday, Febru-
Ary I.
4 cabinet meeting was called for the
afternoon OF Friday. February z.
A. ve assembled not one of us tailed
tn realize the significance OF the ocCa-
,,on The hour had come for tre-
,,.,dous decision. The time for nego-
.,er,. man who rose to greet the Presi-
aent when he entered the room
Tho solemnity Of the moment had in
tonsifed the austerity which those VINO
do not know him we'll mistakenly sup
nos, IN be his prevailing humor. AS
shall show later. Woodrow wilson Is a
man of geniality and humor.
But this was day when only serious
Thought could hold place in any mind
rhc destiny of 100 ooO. 900 people lay in
the hands Of the President OF the
I-nitea States-perhaps the destiny of
the world.
No man there had failed 10 read the
,ext Of the German note which was the
occasion of our meeting. but the Presi-
dent. In measured tones. giving weight
10 every significant syllable. read il TO
us again.
Cabinet Is Unanimous.
have no doubt his mind was already
made up as to the right course to take,
eut. before expressing opinion. he
called upon his colleagues to declare
their vicwr. Esch man spoke freely
and frankly what he thought. EXPIRES
siors varied in tone and in approach to
the main problem. but all agreed upon
one thing-She time had come when
diplomatic relations with Germany must
Be- a.vcrcd.
Tnts w>s the Presidents bcsicf. Nor
do 1 think II WIS any surprise TO him
esss hts colleagues were unanimous in
support Of II. Tho Cabinet stood as a
unit fur the dismissal OF Ambassador
RernstnrH and the ending Of all further
traffic vim the empire OF the Hohenzol-
I~ps.
Ahhough the session lnSted for
srvcrsl hours, this decision was reached
no debate The unanswerahle argu-
ussnf was before us IN the German note
--<deffRnt peSfhffuyn, barharic.
IN reunaining time was devoted to
s4fsrrsrfrg what should be the next step
In the various departments of the Gov
cYnnerte more particularly in those of
Stnfr. War and Navy. The severance OF
rekattuna IL was realized. would create
an c1ceedingiy critical situation. and no
one tried 10 deceive himself with the sup
position that II was not likely to lead
in a few weaks Al most to open war.
Hence the importance OF mapping a
program for immediate action.
Assured Of Congress- support
From the Cabinet meeting the Presi-
dent went TO the Capitol and discussed
the situation with members of the Sem
ate Committee on Foreign Relations and
other Senators. He was assured of their
support In any steps he considered nee
cSSary.
| returned IN the Navy Department so
thoroughly convinced hostilitfes were
Imminent that I sent out the following
teiesram: Six Ainav. In view OF pres
snt international situations take every
precaution TO protect the Government
plans and vessels.
'Alnav" was the code word for "All
the navy.
/ pass now to the second Of the two
7rewar Cabinet meetings which had 10
30 with big decisions. Much happened