Gilpin observer., 1916-04-27
TEXT OF WILSON'S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS THAT GERMANY HAS VOL
ATED EVERY RULE OF SEA WARFARE AND THAT HER
u BOAT COMMANDERS SINK VESSELS OF ALL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THAT COMMERCE
RAIDS END OR UNITED STATES WILL
SEVER DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Washington April 20The text of President Wilson's speech
before the joint session of Congress Thursday follows

before the joint session of Congrt
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS-:
A situation has arisen in the foreign
relations Of the country. Of which It is
''fexyi 4 asi, b. recalled that in February.
1915: the imperial German goyernmsns % snt
waters surrounding Great Britain and
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
out OF the waters 1t had thus pro
peril
Says Gross Abuses Arc Certain.
The government of the United States
earnestly protested. 1t took the posi-
pursued without the practical certain
ty Of gross and palpable violation OF
the Law of nations, particularly II sub
its instruments. inasmuch as the rules
prescribed by that law. rules founded
upon principles of humanity and es-
Of non-combatants at sea, could not in
the nature of the case be observed by
such vessels.
vessels of neutral ownership would be
exposed to extreme and intolerable
risks. and that no right to close any
part of the high seas against their use
or 70 expose them to such risks. could
lawfully be asserted by any belliger-
snt government. a.,
upon which the government Of the
Of reoent origin, or founded upon
convention. It 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 PrOtests.
Notwithstanding the earnest protest
Of our government, the imperial Ger
man government at once proceeded to
1t expressed the hope that the dangers
involved. at any rate the dangers to
neutral vessels, would be reduced to q
minimum by the instructions which It
had issued to its submarine command
ers and assured the government of the
United States that 1t would take ev-
cry possible precaution both to respect
guard the lives of non-combatants.
What has actually happened in the
year which has since elapsed. has
fled. those assurances insusceptible of
being fulfilled.
In pursuance of the policy Of sub
Of hs adversaries, thus announced and
entered upon by the imperial German
government in spite of the solemn pro-
srs of German undersea vessels have
attacked merchant ships with greater
and greater activity. not only upon
hs nd IresnS ssas b%t
could encounter them. in a way that
has grown more and more ruthless,
more and more indiscriminate as the
months have gone by. less and less OBJ,
servant of restraints of any kind; and
have delivered their attacks without
compunction against vessels of every
nationality and bound upon every sort
of errand.
Neutral-Owned 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
belHgerent ownership in constantly-in-
creasing numbers.
Sometimes the merchantmen attacked
has been warned and summoned to
surrender before being fired on or tor
pedoed: sometimes passengers or crews
have been vouchsafed the poor secur-
ity OF being allowed to take to the
ships boats before she was sent to
hut again and again no warning had
been given; NO escape even to the
sh,gs boat: allowed to those on board
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 II be. cannot be carried on with
out tho most palpable violation of the
dictates alike of right and humanity.
Whatever the disposition and inten-
tion OF the imperial German govern
ment, It has manifestly proved impos.
sibls for It to keep such methods OF
COmmArCA a.
miles within tho bounds set by either
the reason or the heart of mankind.
ESrsary of os asd
trai governments Of the world that il
had e. r.ss sssyi sTan that haa tho
all merchant vessels Of British owner
ship. and had given them secret or
ders to attack any submarine of the
seas. and that the imperial German
government felt Justified In the cir
cumstances in treating all merchant
Hilary vessels Of war. which It would
have the right to destroy without
warning.
Gernany Sets Aside Law Of Nations
The law Of nations has long recog-
carry arms for projection and to use
them to repel attacks, to use them In
such circumstances at their own risk
claimed the right to set these under
standings aside under circumstances
which Il deemed extraordinary.
Even the terms in which II an
nounced It's purpose thus still further
to relax the restraints It had previ
oLsiy professed IT'S willingness and de :
submarines carried the plain implica-
tion that at least vessels which were
not armed would be exempt from dc :
personal safety would be accorded
their passengers and crews: but even
that limitation. II II was ever practi-
tuted no check at all upon the de-
structiOn of ships OF every sort.
Again and again the imperial Ger
man government has given this gov
oaes VIII Case Again at Issue.