The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-25
"OUR DUTY is CLEAR"
WROTE PRES. WILSON
No Nation Has the Right While War Is
in Progress TO Alter or Disregard
the Principles Agreed
Upon.

tlon IN congress iof some hctlun WHINING
Americans Off armed merchant ships OF
the European belligerents, last night
wrote Senator Stone, chairman OF the
Senate foreign relations committee, that
he could not consent 20 any abridgement
of the rights of American citizens in any
respect.
"The honor and self.rcspect OF the ma
tion is involved" he said. 1--WE covet
peace, and shall preserve IL at any cost
but the loss of honor
The president expressed hope that ex.
plantations of the declared intentions OF
the central European powers to sink all
armed merchant ships without warning
would put different aspect on a situa-
tion which now seemed TO present IN
superable obstacles.
"We have had no reason to question
their good faith or their fidelity TO their
promises in the past" he added, "and l
for one feel confident that we shall have
none in the future"
The letter was in answer TO one writ
ten late yesterday by Senator Stone out
lining the situation existing at the cap
itol, where since Wednesday morning
persistent demands had been made for
some action which might lessen the pos
sibilty of war between the United States
and Germany. The letter follows:
The Presidents Letter.
"Ary Dear Senator:
81 very warmly appreciate your kind
and frank letter of to-day and feel that
it calls for an equally frank reply.
"You are right in assuming that |
shall do everything 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 striyen for
that object, amidst difficulties more man
fold than can have been apparent upon
the surface; and so far have succeeded.
do not doubt that / shall continue to
succeed. The course which the central
European powers have announced their
intention of following in the future with !
regard to undersea warfare seems for the |
moment to threaten insuperable OBJ |
stacles, but its apparent meaning is so
manfestiy inconsistent with explicit as
surances recently given us by those pow
ers with regard to their treatment Of
merchant vessels on the high seas that | |
must believe that explanations will pres
emily ensue which viii put different |
aspect upon it, We have had no reason
to question their good faith or their idel
ity to their promises 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 o~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 sufferings Of war; and il the
clear rights of American citizens should
ever unhappily be abridged or denied by
any such action, we should, it 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 Amer
lean citizens in any respect. The honor
and self respect of the nation is involved.
We covet peace, and shall preserve ii at
any cost but the loss of honor. To for
bid our people to exercise their rights
for fear we might be called upon to vim
iicate them would be deep humiliation
IN explicit, acquiescence in the violation
If the rights of mankind everywhere and
If whatever nation or allegiance. 1T
would be deliberate abdica tion of our ,
hitherto proud position as spokesmen
wen amidst the turmoil of war for the
aw and the right. It would make every
hing this government has attempted :
nd everything that it has achieved dur :
ng this terrible struggle OF nations
meaningless and futile. In
at is important to reflect that If in 4
his instance we allowed expediency to g
axe the place OF principle, the door
would inevitably be opened to still fur I
her concessions. Once accept a single ! {
batement of right and many other hu v
Mutations would certainly follow, and
he whole fine fabric of international law
night crumble under our hands piece by
'iece. What we are contending for in n
his matter is of the very essence of the
hings that have made America sover-
ign nation. She cannot yield them with
ut coneeding her own impoteney as s.
alton and making virtual surrender of s
er Independent position among the ma G
ions of the world. n
81 am speaking, my dear senator. in a
eep solemnity, without heat, with n
lear consciousness of the high respon
Utilities of my Office, and as your sim II
ere and devoted friend. If we should :"
nhappily differ, we shall differ as Il
-iends; but where issues so momentans &
; those are involved, we must, just be- W
,use we are friends, speak our minds W
ifhnut reservation H.
Faithfully yours, 81
"Woodrow Wilson" p
The president wrote his letter during q
ne afternoon. shutting himself up in
is study while congressional leaders lo
sinly attempted to get him on the tele- tt
hone to tell him OF developments at the 10
Ipitol, and TO arrange for the call of u
le House leaders. He began to write
ter telephone conferences with cabinet
embers and other close advisers. His
scision was to end all speculation over A
hat the position of the government was.
nd TO let Congress and the country
now that the administration believed
Ie United States could do nothing but -
and behind the right of the citizens to Ut
"A Er.zga~,. nF Az