The Washington herald., 1917-04-03

traoruinary session because there are
serious. very serious, choices of policy
which 1t was neither right nor con-
stitutionally permissible that 1 should
assume the responsibility Of making.
On the third of February last Of
ficfally laid before you the extraor-
dtnary announcement of the Imperial
German Government that on and after
the first day Of February 1t was Its
purpose to put aside all restraints of
law or humanity and use its subma-
rtnes 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 enemies Of Germany
within the Mediterranean. That had
seemed to be the object Of the German
submarine warfare earlier in the war.
but since April of last year the I'm
perial Government had somewhat re-
strained the commanders of its un-
dersea craft in conformity with its
promise then given to US that passen-
ger boats should not be sunk and that
due warning would be given to all
other vessels which its submarines
might seek to destroy. when no re-
sistance was offered or escape at
tempted, and care taken that their
crews were given at least fair
chance to save their lives in their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meagre and haphazard enough. as was
proved in distressing instance after in
stance in the progress of the cruel
and unmanly business, but a certain
degree of restraint was observed. The
new policy has swept every restriction
aside. Vessels OF every kind. whatever
their flag, their character. their cargo.
their destination, their errand. have
been ruthlessly sent to the bottom
without warning and without thought
of help or mercy for those on board,
the vessels of friendly neutrals along
with those of belligerents. Even hos
pital ships and ships carrying relief
to the sorely bereaved and stricken
people of Belgium. though the latter
were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German Government itself and were
distinguished by unmistakable marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or of
principle.
Hard to Believe.
was for a little while unable to be-
lieve that such things would in fact be
done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane prac-
tices of civilized nations International
law had its origin in the attempt to set
up some law which would be respected
and observed upon the seas, where no
nation had right of dominion and where
tay the free highways of the world. By
painful stage after stage has that law
been built up, with meager enough re-
suits indeed. after all was accomplished
that could be accomplished. but always
with a clear view. at least, Of what the
heart and conscience of mankind de-
manded. This minimum of right the
German government has swept aside un-
der the plea of retaliation and necessity
and because II had no weapons which IL ,
could use at sea except these which it Is
impossible to employ as It is employing
them without throwing to the winds all
scruples of humanity or Of respect for
the UNDERSTANDINGS that were supposed
TO underlie the intercourse of the world.
I am not now thinking of the loss or
property involved. immense and serious
as that is, but only OF the wanton and
wholesale destruction of the lives Of non
combatants. men. women, and children.
engaged in pursuits which have always.
even in the darkest periods Of modern
history, been deemed innocent and legiti-
mate. Property can be paid for; the
lives of peaceful and innocent people
cannot be. The present German subma-
rine warfare against commerce is a war
fare against mankind.
lean ships have been sunk, American
lives taken, in ways which it has stirred
US very deeply to learn of. but the ships
and people of other neutral and friendly
nations have been sunk and overwhelmed
In the waters in the same way. There
has been no discrimination. The chal-
Ienge is to all mankind. Each nation
must decide for itself how 1t will meet
IT, The choice We make for ourselves
l,A vii moderation
counsel and a temperatures of judg
ment befitting our character and our
motives as a nation. We must put ex-
cited feeling away. Our motive will not
be revenge or the victorious assertion OF
the physical might of the nation. but
only the vindication of right of human
right. of which we are only a single
champion.
Armed Neutrality Fails.
When I addressed the Congress on the
18th of February last I thought that 1t
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms, our right to use the seas
against unlawful interference. our right
to keep our people safe against unlawful
violence But armed neutrality, 1t now
appears Is impracticable. Because sub
marines are in effect outlaws when used
as the German submarines have been
used against merchant shipping it Is i'm
possible to defend shlpS against tnelr at
tacks as the law of nations has assumed
that merchantmen would defend them
selves against prtvateers or cruisers,
visible craft giving chase upon the open
sea. 1t Is common prudence in such cir
cumstances. grim necessity indeed, to en-
'deavor to destroy them before they have
shown their own intention. They must
be dealt with upon sight, IL dealt with
at all. The German government denies
the right Of neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which 1t has
prescribed, even in the defense of rights
which no modern publicist has ever be-
fore questioned their right to defend.
The intimation II conveyed that the arm
cd guards which we have placed on our
merchant ships will be treated as beyond
the pale Of law and subject to be dealt
with as pirates would be. Armed neu-
trality Is Intellectual enough at best; in
such circumstances and IN the face of
such pretensions 1t IL worse than in
efectual; II In likely only to produce
what It was meant to prevent; 1t Is prac-
tically certain to draw US into the war
without either the rights or the effective
ness OF belligerents. There Is one choice
We cannot make, we are incapable Of
making: we will not choose the path OF
submission and suffer the most sacred