UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1917, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

THE PRESIDENT ANXIOUS. POSSIBILITY OP IMMEDIATE ACTION. CONGRESS MAY BE ASKED FOR POWERS. ' Received Feb. 1!). 5.5 p.m. New- York, Feb. 18. President Wilson has conferred with the Senators. The President is now contemplating whether to ask Congress hefore it adjourns to collier upon him full power to act as he deems necessary to protect American lives. It is believed Prescient Wilson anticipates that the probable submarining of American merchantmen may" result'in the need for immediate and resolute action without calling an extraordinary session of Congress. Ollicials opine that everything now depends on wliether there will bo an overt act.

EFFECT OF THE RUPTURE. KAISER IN VIOLENT BACK BERNSTORFF BLAMED. Received Feb. 10 ; 5.25 p.m. London, Feb. IS. The New York Times' Paris correspondent, formerly a resident of Berlin, says the rupture with,the United States came as a bombshell in Imperial circles. The Kaiser Hew into a most violent rage, directed principally against Count Bernstorff. The Kaiser complained that his representative at Washington invariably created misunderstandings, and had been lacking in tact towards what he characterised as the "hypocritical English pastor" at Washington, meaning President Wilson. 'He then ordered the memorandum, .which was transmitted to the United States through.the Swiss Minister.

GERMANY'S LITTLE GAME.

TO CONSERVE HER .PROPERTY. Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Feb. 18. The text of Germany's proposed extension of the treaty of 1709 has been received by the State 'Department. Its chief purpose is to ensure that German shius in the United States shall not be seized. It also deals witli property rights of Germans in America, Jfr. Lansing declined to comment on the matter. EDISON CONCENTRATING ON ANTISUBMARINE CRAFT.

Washington, Feb. IS. Edison is working day and night in a closely guarded building with the model, 10 feet long, of a craft which he claims will revolutionise submarine warfare.