Show NATIONS NATION'S NEXT STEP WilL NOT BE WAR R AWILL A WILL TAKE o ONLY iY PROTECTIVE STEPS IF GERMANY GERMANS COM COM- o MITS OVERT ACT President Would Go Before Congress and Ask Congress to Protect Lives and Property According to Cabinet Decision Washington The The course to be taken taken take tak tak- tak en by the United States if Germany compels the use of force to safeguard American lives Ilves and rights has been determined It was learned authoritatively after Fridays Friday's cabinet meeting that In the event President Wilson goes before congress again It will not nol be Ibe to ask for toL fo a declaration of war but to follow literally the words of the address In which he announced the tho break of ot dip dip- I I relations and requests author author- authority authority ity Uy to use means deemed necessary ko to protect American seamen and peo peo- pie I The president It was stated is as anxious as ever to avoid war with Germany but also is as determined as ever that American citizens and ships shall be free to travel the high seas seas unmolested His next step If taken will be to enforce that right and even then the issue of ot war or peace will be he with Germany Any hostile hostile hos hos- tile action will have to come in the form fonn of an interference with an American American Am Am- American right Details of the governments government's plans were not discussed It is known however however however how how- ever that convoying and arming of or merchant ships are being considered The cabinet met Friday with all members present except Secretary McAdoo Just before the meeting the majority of the members had attended attend attend- ed a session of the council for national national national na na- na- na defense called at the war department department department de de- de- de to discuss mobilization of of the nations nation's resources as a result of ot many offers from manufacturing and other companies to place themselves at the disposal of the government in inthe Inthe inthe the event of trouble Practically lly every member took to the cabinet information about the activities activities ac ac- ac- ac of his department In connection connection connection tion with the general precautions being being being be be- ing taken Questions discussed Included included in In- eluded proposed emergency legisla legisla- ton ton steps for protecting property mail problems precipitated by the failure fail fail- failure ure of ships to sail from American ports for Europe economic iss issues es and andI army and navy preparations |