The review., 1917-03-01
PRESIDENT GOES BEFORE CONGRESS AND
ASKS THAT BODYS ASSENT To PUT THE
NATION IN STATE Of ARMED NEUTRALITY

| happen to encounter exercise an un-
| expected discretion and restraint ratn-
| er than because of the instructions
under which those commanders are
acting.
1T would be foolish to deny that
the situation is fraught with the grav-
est possibilities and dangers. -
Il cannot, in such circumstances, be
unmindful of the fact that the expira.
| tiOn of the term of the present con.
| gress is Immediately at hand, by con-
stitutional limitation; and that it
would in all likelihood, require an un-
usual length of time to assemble and
| organize the congress which is to
| succeed it. I feel that 1 ought, in
view of that fact, to obtain from you
full and immediate assurance of the
authority which I may need at any
moment to exercise.
"No doubt, l already possess tn at
authority without special warrant of
law, by the plain implication of my
constitutional duties and powers; but
L PREFER in the present circumstances
not to act upon general implication.
wish to feel that the authority and
the power of congress are behind me
in whatever it may become necessary
for me to do. We are jointly the SER
wants of the people and must act to-
gether and in their spirit, so far as
we can divine and interpret it.
mo one doubts what it is our duty
to do. We must defend our commerce
and the lives of our people in the
midst of the present trying circun-
stances, with discretion but with clear
and steadfast purpose Only the
method and the extent remain to be
chosen, upon the occasion, if occasion
should indeed arise
"Since it has unhappily proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutral rights
by diplomatic means against the un-
warranted infringements they are
suffering at the hands of Germany,
there may be no recourse but to armed
neutrality, which we shall know how
to maintain and for which there is
abundant American precedent.
''It is devoutly to be hoped that 1t
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire it, and
our desire it not different from theirs
am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which l am now acting,
the purpose l hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit in every
thing 1 do.
81 am anxious that the people of the
nations at war also should understand
and not mistrust us. l hope that I
need give no further proofs and as
surances that I have already given
throughout nearly three years of anx-
iOus patience that l am the friend Of
peace and mean to preserve it for
America so long as l am able
81 am not purposing or contemplate
ing war or any steps that need lead
to it. I merely request that you will
accord me by your own vote and def
mite bestowal the means and the au-
thority to safeguard in practice the
right of a great people who are at
peace and who are desirous of exer-
cisirg none but the rights to follow
the pursuit of peace in quietness and
of mind by all civilized nations of the
world. No course of my choosing or
of theirs will lead to war. War can
come only by the willful acts and ag-
gressions of others.
"You will understand why 1 can
make no definite proposals Or fore !
casts of action now and must ask for J
your supporting authority in the most I
general terms The form in which |
action may become necessary can not
yet be foreseen. I believe that the |
people will be willing to trust me to
act with restraint, with prudence, |
and in the true spirit of amity and |
good faith that they have themselves !
displayed throughout these trying |
and it is in that belief that |
[ request that you VIII authorize me !
to supply our merchant ships with de- |
fensive arms should that become nee
and with the means of using |
them, and to employ any other in
strumentalities or methods that may
be necessary and adequate to protect |
our ships, and our people in their le-
gitimate and peaceful pursuits on the
seas. I request also that you will |
grant me at the same time, along with
the powers I ask, a sufficient credit
for me to provide adequate means Of
protection where they arg lacking, in
cluding adequate insurance against
the present war risks.
81 have spoken of our commerce and
of the legitimate errands of our pe3-
pie on the seas, but you will not be
misled as to my main thought, the
thought that lies beneath these phras-
es and gives them dignity and weight
It is not of national interests merely
that we are thinking. 1t is rather of