The sun., 1917-02-27

GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS - l
have again asked the privilege of ad-
dressing you because we are moving
through critical times during which 1t
seems to me to be my duty to keep
in close touch with the houses of Con-
gress. so that neither counsel nor
action shall run at cross purposes
between us.
On the Sd of February officially in
formed you of the sudden and uneX-
pected action of the Imperial German
Government in declaring its intention
to disregard the promises it had made
to this Government in April last and
undertake immediate submarine opera
tions against all commerce, whether
of beligerents or OF neutrals. that
should seek to approach Great Britain
and Ireland. the Atlantic coasts of
Europe or the harbors of the eastern
Mediterranean. and to conduct those
operations without regard to the estab-
lished restrictions of international
practice, without regard to any consd-
erations of humanity. even, which
might interfere with their object. That
policy was forthwith put into practice.
1t has now been in active execution
for nearly four weeks.
Its practical results afe no; yet fully
disclosed The commerce of other
neutral nations is suffering severely,
but not, perhaps, very much more
severely than it was already suffering
before the 1st of February. when the
new policy of the Imperial Govern
ment was put into operation. We
have asked the cooperation of the other
neutral Governments to prevent these
depredations, but SO far none of them
thntIUht n nj in,
common course of action. Our own
commerce has suffered, is suffering.
rather in apprehension than in fact.
rather because SO many of our ships
are timidly keeping to their home
ports than because American ships
have been sunk.
Deserves Great COnde M nn ton.
Two American vessels have been
sunk. the Housatonic and the Lyman
VI. Law. The case of the Housatonic,
which waS carrying foodstuffs con-
signed to a London firm. was essen
TALLY like the case OF the Frye. in
which. it will be recalled, the German
Government admitted its liability for
damages, and the lives of the crew
as In the case of the Frye We're safe
guarded with reasonable care. The
'ds' VI llt Law, WIlltn WAS CARRYING
lemon box slaves to Palermo, disclosed
ruthleSsness of method which de-
serves grave condemnation. but was
accompanied by no circumstances
which might not have been expected
at any time in connection with the
use OF the submarine against mer-
chantmen as the German Government
has used ii.
In sum. therefore. the situation we
ma ourselves in with regard to the
actual conduct OF the German subma-
flhe warfare against commerce and its
enects upon our own ships and people
is substantially the same that II was
when ] addressed you on the Sd of
February. except for the tying up Of
our shipping in our own ports because
or the unwillingness of our shipowners
10 FISK their vessels at sea without
insurance or adequate protection. and
the very serious congestion of our
commerce which has resulted. a con-
gestion which Is growing rapidly more
and more serious every day. This in
itself might presently accomplish. in
effect. what the new German subma
rine orders were meant TO accomplish,
so far as we are concerned.
We can only say. therefore, that
the overt act which | have ventured to
nope the German commanders would
in fact avoid has not occurred.
ImDrudent to he lnprepared.
But while this is happily true. it
must be admitted that there have been
certain additional indications and eN-
pressions of purpose on the part of
German press and the German au-
thorities which have increased rather
than lessened the impression that IL
our sEpS and our people are spared
II will be because of fortunate cir
cumstanccs or because the commanders
OF the German submarines which they
may happen to encounter exercise an
unexpected discretion and restraint
rather than because of the instructions
under whlch those commanders are
acting, 1t would be foolish to DENY
that the situation is fraught with the
gravest possibilities and dangers No
thoughtful man can fail to see that
the necessity for definite action may
come at any time If we are in fact
| and not in word merely to defend our
| elementary rights as a neutral nation
| II would he most imprudent to he un-
| prepared
! cannot in such circumstances be
| unmindful of the fact that the cN,
| piration OF the term of the present
| Congress is Immediately at hand by
| constitutional limitation. and that il
would in all likelihood require an un.
usual length OF time to assemble and
| organize the Congress " hich is to sue,
ceed Il. ] feel that | ought, in view
of the fact to obtain from YOU ful
| and immediate assurance of the au
| thority which ! may need at any mo-
! ment to exercise. No doubt alrcad,