The Arvada enterprise., 1916-04-27
Washington, April 20The text Of President Wilson's speech
before the joint session Of Congress Thursday foows

before the joint session of Congrt
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS:
A situation has arisen in the foreign
relations of the country, of which 1t is
my plain duty to inform you very
1t will be recalled that in February.
1915 the imperial German government
announced its intention to treat the
waters surrounding Great Britain and
Ireland as embraced within the seat
of war, and to destroy all merchant
ships owned by its enemies that might
be found within any part of that por-
tion of the high seas, and that II
warned all vessels of neutral, as well
as of belligerent ownership, to keep
out of the waters it had thus pro-
scribed or else enter them at their
peril.
Snys Gross Abuses Are Certain.
The government of the United States
earnestly protested. 1t took the posi-
tion that such n policy could not be
pursued without the practical certain
ty of gross and palpable violation of
the law OF nations, particularly If sub
marine craft Were to be employed as
It's instruments, inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law, rules founded
upon principles of humanity and es-
tablished for the protection of the lives
of non -combatants at sea. could not in
the nature of the case be observed by
such vessels.
1t based it's protest on the ground
Niil peTbohS u neutral nationality anu
vessels of neutral ownership would be
exposed to extreme and intolerab Bile
risks, and that no right to close any
part OF the high seas against their use
or TO expose them to such risks could
lawfully be asserted by any belliger-
ent government.
The law of nations in these matters
upon which the government of the
United States based its protest, is not
of recent origin, or founded upon
merely arbitrary principles set up by
convention. 1t is based, on the con-
trary. upon manifest and imperative
principles of humanity and has long
been established with the approval and
by the express assent of all civilized
nations.
Germany DisreEards All PrOtesta.
Notwithstanding the earnest protest
OF our government, the imperial Ger
man government at once proceeded to
carry out the policy it had announced.
1t expressed the hope that the dangers
involved, at any rate the dangers to
neutral vessels, would be reduced to a
minimum by the instructions which it
had issued to it's submarine command
crs and assured the government of the
United States that it would take ev-
cry possible precaution both to respect
the rights of neutrals. and to safe
guard the lives of non -combatants.
What has actually happened in the
year which has since elapsed, has
shown that those hopes were not justi-
fled. those assurances insusceptible of
being fulfilled.
In pursuance of the policy of sub
marine warfare against the commerce
OF its adversaries, thus announced and
entered upon by the imperial German
government in spite of the solemn pro-
test OF this government, the command
ers of German undersca vessels have
attacked merchant ships with greater
and greater activity. not only upon
the high seas surrounding Great Brit
ain and Ireland but wherever they
could encounter them. in way that
~ los
more and more indiscriminate AS the
months have gone by. less and less oh.
servant of restraints of any kind: and
hay. delivered their attacks without
conjunction against vessels of every
nationality and bound upon every sort
of errand.
Neutral OWnr Vessels Destroyed.
Vessels of neutral ownership, even
vessels of neutral ownership bound
from neutral port to neutral port have
been destroyed, along with vessels Of
b.lligcrcnt ownership in constantly-in-
Crcasing numbers.
Sometimes the mcrchantman attacked
has been warned and summoned to
surrender before being fired ON or tor
psdoed: sometimes passengers or crews
have been vouchsnfcd the poor scCur-
ity of being allowed to take to the
ships boats before she was sent to
the bottom.
But again and again no warning had
been given; no escape even to the
ships boats allowed to those on board.
What this government foresaw must
happen has happened. Tragedy has
followed tragedy on the seas in such
fashion. with such attendant circum-
stances. as to make 1t grossly evident
that warfare Of such sort. II war
fare It be. cannot be carried on with
out the most palpahlc violation Of the
dictates alike OF right and humanity,
Whatever tn" disposition and inton-
tion Of the imperial German govern
m.nt II has manifestly proved impos-
fnr ls,n Sngn lpIS ~
attack upon tn" commerce OF Its enc
mics within III. bounds set by either
the reason or the heart OF mankind
In February OF tn" present year, the
Impcrial German government informed
this government and the other ncu-
trail governments OF the world that II
had rcnson to believe that the gov
,rnmeut of Great Britain had armed
all merchant vessels OF British owner
ship. and had given hem secret or
d,rs to attack any submarine OF tn"
enemy they might encounter upon the
seas. and that tn" Imperial German
government felt justified In the cir
rumstnnc"s In treating all merchant
mon Of hcllig"r"nt ownership M aux
lIury vessels uf war, which II would
have the right to destroy without
warning.
Germany sets Aside LAW Of Nations.
The law of nations has long rccou-
nIy,d the right OF merchantmen to
rprry arms for protection aud to us
them to rrpcl attacks, To ms" them In
such circumstances pt their own risk
hut the imperial German government
rlnImcd the right to set these under
standings asid" under circumstances
which il deemed extraordinary,
Even the terms In which II an.
rnunced it's purpose thus Etill further
10 relax the restraints II Ind pr'vl
oLriy prof"sSod Its willingness ana Il"
,lro to put upon the operations Of lts
slbmArinUE carried the plain lnplich-
,l0n that ut least vessels which were
not armed would b" exempt from IL"
,truCtion without warning ana that
porsounl pnfoty would b" accorded
their pnEHUngors and crews. but even
that limitation, II II was ever prhctl'
cuhle to observe II. has IN fact conHii-
,utod no check nt all upon the de-
stIuc,Ion OF ships OF every sort,
Again aud ngaln tn" lmp"rlnl Ger
man government has given TINS gov
oies VIII Case Again at Issue.
Bouldcr.-ln the District Court an