Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-05
PRESIDENTS WORD
]. FINAL AS TO WAR
Signature Necessary to Make
Joint Resolution of Con-
gress Effective.
CANNOT SIGN ACT TODAY

:, The United States will not be FORM
!. ally and technically at war with the
German government before tomorrow,
even if the House of Representatives
does adopt this afternoon or tonight the
:, war resolution which was adopted ny
the Senate last night
8 President Wilson must approve the
Joint resolution of Congress before
" technical state of war exists. but the
% measure cannot reach the White House
:. tonight, for the reason that it must
first be signed. under the law, in the
open Senate by the Vice President, and
: in the open House by the Speaker.
:. As the Senate has adjourned until
= tomorrow, there will be no open session
. of the Senate in which the Vice Presi-
- dent may sign the resolution until
" then.
:" Doubt as to Proclamation.
y Administration officials did not know
/, today whether there will be made
!, public a proclamation by President Will
son. announcing the action of Congress.
1T is not regarded as necessary, al
:, though it is belle we'd that the State De-
:. partment Will formally communicate
=. the contents of the resolution, announc-
q ing that a state of war exists between
the United States and the German gov
. eminent, to all the powers at war, as
well as to neutral governments.
The formal action by the United
States Congress approved by the Presi-
dent. will probably be communicated
to the German government through the
:. Swiss minister here, who has repre-
;. scented German interests since the rup-
=" ture of diplomatic relations between
:. Germany and the United States.
:. President Wilson. his advisers said
!" today, has made no plans. SO far as
!, they know, to approve the resolution.
although ii is taken for granted that
he will be ready and waiting to do so
as soon as the historic document is
=. presented to him.
: 1t will be necessary after the war
resolution is signed by the President
. for an entirely new set of proclama-
tons to be issued. to take the place of
|. the neutrality proclamations.
May Swing Other Neutrals.
Diplomats here expect war declara-
: ton by the United States will be fol-
lowed by efforts by the entente allies
., to persuade some other neutrals to
. Join the war. The moral effect of this
. governments action is regarded as suf-
/. ficient to swing over some of the Euro
: pean neutrals that have been on the
. verge of war for months. Many of
them have regarded the United States
. as a leader of neutral opinion.
Efforts to bring in some of the South
American republics would not be un-
. expected. 1t is felt in some diplomatic
: quarters here that the interests of
South America are identical with those
of the United States Many of the
South American republics have suffered
from the war measures of Germany and
German submarines have taken the
lives of many of their citizens.
China's immediate interest in the war
policies of the United States was shown
today by a visit from DIR. V. X. We'll
lngton koo, Chinese minister here, to
Secretary Lansing TO obtain as COM
plete and accurate information for his
government as posSib BILE.