File No. 711.21/353
The Secretary of State to Chargé Belden
Washington, March 17, 1917, 6 p.m.
Department’s February 28, 7 p.m. Senate adjourned at 3 p.m. yesterday until April 16. Consideration of the treaty was suspended until the extra session of Congress in April.
You may explain to Minister for Foreign Affairs that as extra session was called for April 16, there was but little time in special session of Senate for discussion of treaty and for that reason it was felt that there would be more chance of success in coming session of Congress. The prospects of confirmation were observed to be growing distinctly better under the influence of opinion in the country and it was felt to be wise to let this influence mature, as it is expected it will now that the significance of the treaty has been made clear at the session just interrupted.