On February 3, he went before a joint session of the house and senate and announced that Ambassador von Bernstorff had been given his passports and all diplomatic relations with the Teuton empire severed.

On February 12, an attempt at negotiation came through the Swiss minister who had been placed in charge of German diplomatic interests in this country.

The President promptly and emphatically replied that no negotiations could be even considered until the submarine order had been withdrawn.
On February 26, the lower house of congress voted formal permission for the arming of American merchant ships as a protection against submarine attacks, and appropriated one hundred million dollars for the arming and insuring of the ships.

A similar measure in the senate was defeated by Senator Robert M.LaFollette of Wisconsin, acting under a loose rule of the senate which permitted filibustering and unlimited debate.

The session of congress expired March 4, and the President immediately called an extra session of the senate which amended its rules so that the measure was passed.
Senator LaFollette's opposition to the war and some of his public utterances outside the senate led to a demand for his expulsion from that body.