The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-03-22
STATE OF WAR
NOW EXISTS T.. q.
WITH GERMANY
Congress is Called for April 2
to Make the Official
Declaration
DEFENSE MEASURES HASTEN
Armed Clash between this Country
and Teutons Seems to be
Inevitable

3 ar.t
President Wilson, recognizing that
Germany practically is making war
on the United States on the seas, has
called congress to assemble in extra
ordinary session on April 2 to deal
with the situation. "
The purpose of the session, now
called two weeks earlier than the date
first set, as announced in the presi-
dents proclamation, is to receive a
communication from the chief execu-
tive concerning "grave matters Of ma
tional policy which should be taken
Immediately under consideration"
The president in his address to con-
gress will detail how Germany prac-
tically has been making war on the
United States by the ruthless destruc-
ton of American lives and ships on
the high seas in contravention of all
the laws Of nations and humanity.
Congress then is expected to pass
resolution declaring that a state Of
war has existed between the United
States and Germany for some time.
Such resolution in ITSELF will not
be a declaration. of war in technical
sense, altho practically it will amount
to the same thing. s,. :,
As consequence the United States
will take further steps to protect its
interests on the high seas and else
where against the warlike acts Of
Germany and whether an actual state
of war will come to exist in it's full,
sense will depend on the future acts
Of the imperial German government. !,
Since last z Saturday, when three
American ships were sunk off the
British Isles in quick succession with
loss of American lives bringing the
total number. Of Americans lost thru
German submarine operations to more
than 20O-the president and all his
advisers have recognized that a state
Of war existed. From all parts of
the country have come calls for the
immediate summoning Of congress in
extra session.
Altho the president, by the provis-
ions of the constitution, must leave it
to congress to make the practical de-
claration Of war, such advices as have
come to the White House from men,
bers of congress, governors of states,
public officials and many hundreds Of
citizens have contained statements Of
support of such policy in it's fullest
sense. - ~
The cabinet, which urged the move
upon the president at yesterdays
session, is described by its members
as having been more thoroly united
than it has been on any other question
that has come before it. II
The nation now actually comes to
the point which all the history indi-
Gated must necessarily follow the sew
erance of diplomatic relations with
Germany February 8. .
When the president on that day
handed to Count Won Bernstorff his
passports and notified congress that
ne had severed diplomatic relations
altogether with the imperial German
government, the United States was
placed in a position where all the pre-
cedent was pressing it toward war.
All official Washington openly ac-
knowledged that nothing less than
Germany's abandonment of her newly
announced campaign of submarine
ruthlessness could prevent it and nc
one here supposed that Germany would
change her determination. s~s ..~
ALI the allied nations openly gave
indications of their belief that the
United States would soon be involved
IN the war and that possibility was
recognized in Germany before the new
e submarine campaign was announced
When Foreign Minister Zimmerman
working thru Count Won Bernstorh
and the German minister in Mexico
attempted to unite Japan and Mexico
m an alliance to make war on The
United States. tn.5 8