Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-11-09
PRESIDENTS WAR
MESSAGE GARDLED
Full Text Withheld From People
Of Germany by Kaiser's
Government.
PASSAGES we're SUPPRESSED
Report Of Wolf Telegraph Bureau,
Unofficial Mouthpieee Of Kaiser,
Shows Wilson's Address
Distorted.

The German people never had an OPP
p%Ortunity TO read the full text OF the
address delivered by President Wilson
before congress on April ?, 1917, In
which the president called upon con-
gress to declare the existence Of the
state Of war then being waged upon
the United States by Germany. In the
copies Of this address which were per
mitted to be published In Germany.
many passages were suppressed, ac-
cOrdlng to the committee on public
Information Of the United States gov
eminent. The passages suppressed in
cluded those In which the president
told why the United States had been
forced to enter into the war against
Germany In protection of It's rights and
In order to make the world safe for
democracy.
The committee IN public information
has Issued a copy of the presidents
address, showing the passages which
were suppressed by the Wolff Tele-
graph bureau, which Is under govern
ment censorship and has been consist
emily employed by the German govern
ment for the PRONUNCIATION Of its Off
ciai opinions. The following Is an Of
hcial copy OF the presidents address
with The passages suppressed by the
WOln Telegraph bureau shown I'm hold.
faced type:
Gentlemen Of the Congress.
/ nave called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are So
rious. very serious. choices OF policv 10
ne made. and made Immediately. which
Il Is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that I should assume the re-
s~ponsibility OF making.
Oh the 80 OF February last ! officially
iaid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement Of the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
aay or February II was its purpose to
put aside all restraints Of law or OF hu-
mainly and use its submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports OF Great Britain and
ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any OF the ports controlled by the
nemies OF Germany within the Medi-
t~erranean, That had seemed to be the
object OF the German ubmarlne war
rare earlier In the war. but since April
OF last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman
ders OF its undersea craft. In conform
ity with It's promise. then given 10 MS,
that passenger boats should not he
sunk, and that due warning would be
given TO ali other vessels which It's
submarines might seek 60 destroy,
when no resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted, and care taken TINT
their crews were given at least a fair
chance Go save their lives In their omen
boats. The precautions taken were
meaEer and h~nphnEnrd enough. na was
proved I'm distressing Instance after
Instance In the progress of the cruel
and unmnnly business, hut n certain de-
gree OF restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
strictlon aside. Vessels OF every kind.
whatever their nnE, their character
their cargo. their destination. their
errand, ave been ruthlessly sent TO
the bottom without warning and with
out thought Of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels OF friendly neu-
trails along with those OF belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the Eorely berenVed aud sfrlck-
en- people Of Belgium, though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government Itself and were
distinguished by unmIstnkabIe marks
of Identity, have been SUM with the
same reckless lack OF compassion or
OF principle.
! was for n little while unable 20
believe that such things would Ia fact
he done by any government hat had
hitherto subscribed 60 the humane
practices Of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had Its origin In the Mt
tempt 10 set mp some lHy which would
he respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation had right Of
dominluu and where lay the free high
ways Of the world. By painful stage
after stage haa that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed.
after all was accomplished hat could
De accomplished. hut always with n
clear view, ne least, OF what the henrt
and conscience Of mankind demanded.
This minimum Of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea Of retaliation and necessity and
because II had no Weapons which II
could Ease nj sea except these. which
II ~ Impossible to employ as II Is en-
plOyir,g them without throwing 10 the
wind an soruples Of humanity or OF
respect FOR the Understandings that
were supposed 20 underlle the Inter
course OF the world
am not now thinking Of the loss Of
property involved immense and serious
az that is, but only Of the wanton and
wholesale destruction OF the lives Of
-combatants. men. women. and chill
dren. engaged In pursuits which have
always, even In the dnrkest periods of
modern history. been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property can be paid
fori the lives Of peaceful and Innocent
people cunnot he. The present German
submarine warfare against commerce
IS a warfare against mankind.
II Is a war against an nations. Amer
lean ahins have been sunk, American
lives taken, In ways which "a has
stirred Us very deeply Co learn Of, hut
the ships mad people Of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk