Show I SENATORS IN DARK AS WARt WAR WARI I iii t 1 r. r t I I II r. r 0 I I I fo 0 t I v t T f r f I P r fl h I B By yon J John h hEd Ed Edwin win win N Nevin I International 1 Ne News s Service Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON ASHINGTON Feb 28 The 28 The The United Stat States s is standing today y y on the very threshold of war Its Us participation ti in t l i 0 1 lQ 0 caust which has d involved all aU Europe ma may yb be a forced I in the immediate d' d te tb future i Every effort is being made to avoid actual participation in in hostilities even though President 1 and his closest advisers ha have ve characterized the sinking of the Laconia in the night without t warning causing the loss of lives of two American women as an overt act But it is freely admitted that the speech of German Imperial Chancellor von Bethmann Bethmann Hollweg contained an illy c con concealed cOn cOn- tn- tn cC ceal sled d threat against the United States And the excuse given avin nl n for the failure to release the prisoners is characterized in official quarters as more of an insult than had they simply been detained Domestic Situation Situation Continues Complicated The domestic situation in so far as as it relates to the int international nia- nia developments continues much complicated Senator La Follette Fol- Fol lette of Wisconsin as leader of t the e pacifist element in the senate which is demanding an extra session has blocked consideration probably tomorrow of the senate bill conferring authority on the I president to institute armed neutrality an and to take fake such other means as may be necessary to protect American rights The Tile house hous was still groping around with no progress made to clear up the questions in dispute Meanwhile pacifist leaders all over the country with William J. J Bryan as their leader have hurried here to stimulate congress to resist the president They do not want the flee chief executive to arm ships or of to take any steps to tighten the tension between t the le leI I United States V r V. V V Crisis With Austrian v r I v Government Is Imminent i While hile the domestic confusion hourly is bein being increased a crisis with Austria is imminent All plans to break with Germanys Germany's strongest ally because she has indorsed unrestricted submarine warfare warfare war war- fare have been completed Ambassador dor Penfield at Vienna has been in touch with Till ill ll his assistants and with all American consular agents in his territory They have their instructions to turn their work ork over oyer to representatives of of Spain on receipt of agreed upon orders and to proceed to Vienna to join the American ambassador and leave with him When Then these orders shall be issued is up to the president and Secretary of State Lansing Their decision waits upon Austria's reply to the tine aide placed in the hands of the Austron Austro- Austro Hungarian foreign ign n office by Ambassador dor Penfield several days ago go Berlin advices have indicated that this reply will be It be-It it is accepted here that it must be an be an indorsement o 0 of the German methods When that that- answer reaches here all that can be done is for the tho administration to recall Mr Penfield high officials say and to arrange arrange arrange ar ar- ar- ar range for the departure f from om the he United States of Ambassador Designate and his Jus entire suite Count has been waiting wasting here ever since the day r relations with wits Germany were broken off to present credentials to the president It is admitted at at the embassy that that he has given up ul hope ope that he will have opportunity to do so But in In accordance with th the usages of diplomacy there is nothing that he can do but stand by and wait watt No word has come from the White While House as to what the president president president dent intends to do next in dealing with the international crisis He le Heis Heis is waiting on congress Until he Ise is is convinced that his outlined course is not to be supported it is not believed that h he will win take |