The state herald., 1916-03-03
HONOR is AT STAKE, PRESIDENT
WILSON WRITES TO SEN
AToR STONE.
Letter Announces that Executive Will
Hold Germany to Promises for
Safety Of Americans on
the High Seas.
Newspaper Onion New. Service.

not consent to barring of American
citizens from armed passenger ships
as proposed by resolutions before
Congress and that II any nation de-
nies the right of Americans to safety
on board such vessels the United
States has lin honor no choice" as to
what its course should be.
The course which the central pow.
ers are pursuing in their order to
sink without warning after March 1
all armed ships seems for the mo-
ment to threaten "insuperable obsta-
cles," the President wrote, but added
that, because of previous assurances.
he must believe explanations putting
n different aspect on the situation
soon will be made.
White House, Feb. "a, 1916.-My
Dear Senator: l very warmly appre.
ciate your kind and frank letter of
to-day and feel that it calls for an
equally frank reply. You are right in
assuming that | sLall do everything in
my power to keep the United States
out Of war. think the country will
NJ uneasiness about my course in
that respect. Through many anxious
months | have striven for that object
amidst difficulties more manifold than
can have been apparent upon the sur
face, and SO far | have succeeded.
do not doubt that shall continue to
succeed.
The course which the central Eu-
ropean powers have announced their
intention of following in the future
with regard to under-sea warfare
seems for the moment to threaten In.
superable obstacles. but its apparent
meaning is SO manifestly inconsistent
with explicit assurances recently Civ.
en- us by those powers with regard to
their treatment OF merchant vessels
on the high seas that must believe
that explanations will presently en-
sue which will put n different aspect
upon 1t. We have had no reason to
question their good faith or their H.
deity to their prorises in the past,
and !. for one, feel confident that we
shall have none In the future.
But in any event our duty is clear:
No nation or group OF nations has the
right while the war is in progress to
alter or disregard the principles which
all nations have agreed upon in miti.
CATION of the horrors and sufferings
OF war, and II the clear rights of
American citizens should ever un.
happily be abridged or denied by any
such action. we should, II seems to
me. have In honor no choice as TO
what our own course should be. For
my own part, / cannot consent to any
abridgement OF the rights of Ameri.
can citizens In any respect. The hon.
or and self-respect OF the nation Is
Involved. We eovet peace and shall
preserve II at any cost. but the loss
of honor. To forbid our people to
exercise their rights for fear we
might be called upon to vlndlcate
them would be n deep humiliation in.
deed.
1t would be an implicit. all but an
explicit. aeqniescence In tho violation
of the rights of mankind eyerywhers
and OF whatever nation or allegiance.
II would be n deliberate nbdlcation OF
our hitherto proud position as spokes
men even amid the turmoil OF war for
the law and the right. II would make
everything this government has at
and everything that Il has
achieved during this terrible struggle
OF nations meaningless and futile.
1T Is important TO reflect that II In
this instance we allowed expediency
to take the place OF principle. the
door would inevitably be opened 10
still further concessions Once accept
a single abatement OF right and many
other humiliations would certainly fol
low and the whole fine fabric of inter.
national law might crumble under our
hands. piece by piece. What We are
for In this matter IN OF
the very essence of the things that
have made America sovereign ma.
tion. She cannot yield them without
conceding her own impotency as q
nation and making virtual surrender
OF her Independent position among the
nations OF the world.
II am speaking. my dear senator. In
deep solomnlty without heat. with
clear consciousness OF the high 70
sponsibllltlos OF my office, and us
your sincere and devoted friend. II
we should unhapplly differ. wo shril
differ mn friends, but whcro issues 10
ms these are involved We
must. Jus, because wo arc frion Ia.
speak our minds without reservation.
Faithfully yours. -.
WOODROW WILSON"
The Presidents letter was In an.
swor TO one written late Thursday aft.
crnoon by Senator Stone outlining the
existing Mt the capitol.
whore for two days. persistent dr.
mands had been made Tor some action
which might lessen the possibility OF
war between the United States and
Germany.