New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-25
HONOR AND SELF-RESPECT OF NATION
ARE AT STAKE, HE WARNS CONGRESS
Full Text of Presidents Letter
to Senator Stone.

Uashinqton Feb. 24.-President Wilson Wrote TO-
dan to Senator Stone chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee as follo,0s:
"My Dear Senator very warmly appreciate your
kind and frank letter of to-day and feel that 1t calls Tor
an equally frank reply:
"You are right In assuming that | shall do every
thing in my power to keep the United States out OF war
think the country will feel no uneasiness about my
course in that respect Through many anxious months
have strven for that object, amidst difficulties more
manifold than can have been apparent upon the surface
and so far have succeeded do not doubt that snail
continue to succeed. The course which the Central
European powers have announced their intention OF lo
lowing in the future with regard to undersea warfare
seems for the to threaten nsuperabe OBSTACLES
but its apparent meaning is manfesty inconsistent
with explicit assurances recently given us by those
powers with regard their treatment of merchant YES
sells on the high that must believe that eXpaha-
tons will presently which Will put dlfferent
aspect upon it. We have had reason to question ther
good faith or their fidelity to their promises IN the past
and for one feel confident that shall have none in
the future.
"But. in any event. our duty is clear. No nation
no group of nations has the right while war is in
progress to alter or disregard the principles which all
nations have agreed upon in mitigation OF the horrors
and suferings of and if the clear rights or Amer
can citizens should ever unhapry be abridged or denied
bv any such action should II seems 70 me, nave III
honor no choice as to what course should be-
For my own part. cannot consent to any abrldg
ment of the rights of American citizens in any respect
The honor and sefrespec Of the nation are involved
We cove peace and shall preserve at any cost but the
loss of honor To forbid people to exercise their
rights for fear might be called upon to vndicate
them would be deep humiliation indeed. 1t would be
an implicit all but explicit acquescence IN the VIOLA
ton of the rights of mankind everywhere and OF what
ever nation or allegiance 1t would be deliberate abd
cation of our hitherto proud position spokesman even
amidst the turmoil of for the law and the right IL
would make everything this government has attempted
and everything that has achieved during this terrible
struggle of nations meaningless and futile.
at is important to reflect that If in this instance we
allowed expediency to take the place OF principle, the
door would inevitably be opened to still further conces
sions Once accept single abatement of right and
many other humliations would certainly follow, and
the whole fine fabric of international law might crumbe
under our hands piece by piece What we are contend
ng for in this matter of the very essence OF the things
that have made America a sovereign nation She cannot
Weld them without conceding her own impotency as
nation and making virtual surrender of her Independent
position among the nations of the world
81 am speaking my dear Senator, in deep solemnity,
without heat with clear consciousness OF the hgn re-
snonsibtes of my office and your sincere and de-
voted friend If we should unhappiy differ, we shall
differ as friends but where issues so momentous as
those are involved must just because we are friends
sneak our minds without reservation. Faithfully yours
"WOODROW WILSON"