South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-19

/ the presidents address:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
"A situation has arisen i'm the for
eign relations Of the country of
which it is my plain duty TO inform
YOU very rankly.
1t will be recalled that i'm Feb
! ruary. 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 10 de-
stroy all merchant ships owned by
its enemies that might be found
within any part of that portion Of
the high seas and that il warned all
! vessels, of neutral as we'll as Of bel
lgerent ownership. to keep out Of
the waters it had thus prescribed, or
else enter them at their peril
L. =. Government Protests.
The government Of the United
! States earnestly protested. It took
the position that such a policy could
not be pursued without the practical
| certainty Of gross and palpable vio-
| latiOn of the law OF nations, particu-
| larry if submarine craft were TO be
I ployed as its instruments, mas
much as the rules prescribed by that
law. rules founded upon principles
Of humanity and established for the
protection Of the lives of non-cOm-
batants at sea could not in the ma
ture Of the case he observed by such
vessels. It based it's protest on the
ground that persons Of neutral ma
| tionality and vessels of neutral own
ership would he exposed to extreme
and intoler%ble risks and that no
right to close any part Of the high
seas against their use or 10 expose
them 10 such risks could lawfully be
asserted by any belligerent govern
ment The law Of nations in these
matters. upon which the government
OF the United States based it's pro-
test is not of recent origin or found
Ell upon merely arbitrary principles
set up by convention. II Is based.
on the contrary. upon manifest and
imperative principles of humanity
and has long been established with
the approval and by the express as
sent of all civilized nations.
Proceeds With Policy.
Notwithstanding the earnest pro-
| test of our government, the imperial
German government at once pro-
| ceeded TO carry out the policy il has
announced II expressed the hope
that the dangers involved. at any
rate the dangers 10 neutral vessels,
| would he reduced 20 a minimum by
the instructions which II had issued
to it's submarine commanders, and
assured the government Of the
United States that it would take
every possible precaution both 10
respect the rights Of neutrals and 10
safeguard the lives Of non-combat-
ants.
What has actually happened in
the year which has since elapsed has
shown that those hopes were not
| justified. those assurances insuscep-
| tible of being fulfilled. In pursuance
Of the policy Of submarine warfare
| against the commerce OF its adver-
saries. thus announced and entered
upon by the imperial German gov
eminent in despite Of the solemn
| protest of this government, the
| commanders of German undersea
/
] with greater and greater activity. not
| only upon the high seas surrounding
| Great Britain and Ireland. but wher-
ever they could encounter them, in
| a way that has grown more and more
! ruthless. more and more indiscrim-
mate as the months have gone by.
! less and less observant Of restraints
I Of any kind. and have delivered their
attacks without compunction against
vessels OF every nationality ana
/ bound upon every sort of errand.
Neutral Vessels Attacked.
Vessels Of neutral ownership. even
vessels of neutral ownership bound
from neutral port 20 neutral port.
have been destroyed along with yes
/ sells Of belligerent ownership IN con-
stantly increasing numbers. some
times the merchantmen attacked
has been warned and moned 10
surrender before being fired on or
torpedoed; some times passengers or
crews have been vouchsafed the poor
security OF being allowed 20 take 70
the ships boats before she was sent
20 the bottom But again and again.
no warning has been given. no es-
cape even 10 the ships boats allow
| ed 10 those on board.
What this government foresaw or
must happen has happened. Trag-
! edv has followed tragedy on the seas
\ i'm such fashion. with such attend
: ant circumstances. as % make IL
/ grossly evident that warfare OF such
/ a sort If warfare II be. cannot be
! carried on without the most palpable
/ violation Of the dictates alike Of
right and humanity Whatever the
| disposition and intention OF the inn
! perial German government. it has
manifestly proved impossible for IL
TO keep such methods OF attack upon
| the commerce OF its enemies within
/ bounds set by either the reason or
\ the heart Of mankind.
"In February Of the present year