SENATE BLOCKS THE PRESIDENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3020, 6 March 1917, Page 5

SENATE BLOCKS THE PRESIDENT

AUTHORITY BILLS HELD UP BY A SMALL MINORITY INTENSE PUBLIC RESENTMENT Washington, March 3. The Senate continued the debate on the Bill to grant war powers to the President. "War with Germany" Was on the lips of nearly every speaker who was stonewalling the proposal to delegate power to declare war to tho President. _ \ " Senator Stone amazed hfs listeners by stating that ho had information that tho Navy Department, if tho Bill were adopted, would place small submarine chasers aboard merchantmen. When the danger zone was reached the chasers would, be lowered, their <lu ty being to seek submarines and sink them on sight.. . At noon, the Senate adjourned sine die, without passing tho Armed Neutrality Bill. Before tho adjournment, seventy-five of the ninety-sis members of the .Senate signed a manifesto declaring th at they favoured the Armed Neutrality Bill, and regretting that a._rulo not limiting: debate prevented its passage. Iho small group opposing the Bill consisted of pacificists, opponents to the granting of war powers to the President, and opponents to tho arming of munition ships. Herr'von Zimmerman's cynical admission of tho authenticity of tho Mexican Note has caused extraordinary and widespread resentment. There is now little doubt the country will support President fl'ilson if ho decides to arm tho ships, as an overwhelming majority of both Houses favours this course. There is most intense indignation at the action of the minority in the Senate in preventing a vole, and expressions of disgust are heard everywhere at the effort to force an extra session. Senator Hitchcock declared that the Bill bad been defeated by twelve men, who were tho most reprehensible filibusters in tho history of civilised govornment. It is now confidently expected that President. Wilson will arm tho ships on his own responsibility. THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. (Re'c. March 5, 11.15 p.m.) , . ' L Now York, March 4. The President has issued a statom ent to tho effect that an old law provents his arming tho ships unless authorised by Congress.—Aus.-N.Z.'Cable Assn. President fl'ilson has called a spocial session of tho Senate on Monday.' —Router. '■ TERRIFIC OUTBURST OF FRIGHTFULNESS PREDICTED , „ ' , New York, March 3. The Now York "Sun s _ correspondent at London, says ho learns on reliable authority that tho United State s may expect within a fortnight a terrific oubreak of German plotters' work, unless tho frightfulncss scheme is checkmated.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN PLOT IN MEXICO INNOCENT PROTESTS BY MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER, New York, March 4. 'Iho Mexican Foreign Minister (Sonor Aguilar) denies that Mexico received any proposition of an alliance from Germany.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ./. THE WIDENING BREACH WITH CHINA ■ .. „ , The Hague, March 4. Reports from Berlin state, that tho German Minister at Poking has warned tho Foreign Offico that China is likely to break diploumtio relations unless tho blockade policy is changed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. RUPTURE DECIDED ON-THEN WAR, / (Rec. March 5, 5.20 p.m.) \ . London, March 4. The "Morning Post" states that tho Chilieso Cabinet has decided to break off relations with Germany, and subsequently cleclaro war. Tho President has agreed to this course, subject to tho approval of Parliament. Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ■ , . BULGARIAN MINISTER TO LEAVE WASHINGTON (Rec. March 6, 0.45 a.m.) London, March 5. The Balkan Press Agency announces that tho Bulgarian Minister at ■Washington has been instructed to de mand his passports.—United Service. YARROWDALE'S PRISONERS IN "REPRISAL CAMP" „. . . . ' ' , . Copenhagen March 4. two American doctors who were released with the Yarrowdale prisoners state that 480 of tho captured crows were imprisoned at Neustrellite, but subsequently were- transferred to Karlsru he Camp, situated in tho centro of the town, between two railway stations which the French and British ail-man constantly bombard. Tho camp was established for reprisal purposes The prisoners include highly-placed English and French officers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE COLLAPSING BOGEY OF FRIGHTFULNESS INSTRUCTIVE STATISTICS FROM FRANCE. ■ ~ ~ ~ ~ „ ~, , . London, March 4. As proof of the comparative collapse of the submarine operations M Marcel Hutin states 142 vessels entered French ports on February 24 126 on February 25, and 160 on February 27, whilst tho averago for the first "week of the blockade was 108.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFERENCE AT BERLIN ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. mt -,r ■ in v * „ Amsterdam, March 4. The Kaiser gave a lengthy audience to Herr Zinimermann, who later attended I-lerr Bothmann-Hollweg's conference with tho .Foreign Offico officials,