The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-14
...,., DECLARATION
QUICKLY PASSED
UNITED STATES AND AUSTRIA
HUNGARY NOW OFFICIALLY
ARE AT WAR.
ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE
Ballot Is Unanimous in Senate.-Rep-
resentative London, New York
Socialist, Is Only Objec-
tor.-Rankin Votes.

Washington. Dec. S-War between
the United States and Austria-Hun
gary was formally declared yesterday
Congress, with one dissenting vote
in the house. adopted and President
Wilson approved, a resolution declar
ing existence of a state of war be
tween the Imperial and royal Austro
Hungarian government and the govern
ment and people of the United States,
authorizing the president to employ
the nations armed forces and pledg-
ing its resources to victory.
The resolution, the response of con
gress to the presidents request in his
address Tuesday is similar to that
passed April 6. declaring war with Ger
many. 1t became effective at ) :03 p.
m, yesterday, when it was signed by
the executive without formality. An
executive proclamation will follow
| shortly.
Unanimous in Senate.
After but one hours debate the reso-
luton was unanimously adopted by
the senate with an affirmative vote of
"A. 1t was approved by the house,
1868 to l. Representative London, the
New York Socialist, casting the only
dissenting vote. A few minutes later
Vice President Marshal and Speaker
Clark had signed the document and
sent it to the White house, where
President Wilson attached his sigma
ture to it with Secretary Tumulty and
Assistant Secretary Foster as the only
witnesses.
The resolution follows:
Joint resolution.
Declaring that a state of war eX-
lists between the imperial and royal
AustrO-Hungarian government and the
government and the people of the Unit
ed States and making provision to
prosecute the same:
Whereas, the imperial and royal
Austro-Hungarian government has
committed repeated acts of war against
the government and the people of the
United States of America; therefore,
be it
Resolved, by the senate and house
VI I6JI tSSllldliNeS VI llit OulLcu 1otdlCS
of America, in congress assembled, |
that a state of war is hereby declared |
to exist between the United States of |
America and the imperial and royal |
Austro-Hungarian government; and |
that the president be, and he is here |
by authorized and directed to employ !
the entire naval and military forces
. Al A.
of the government to carry on war
against the imperial and royal Austro-
government; and to bring
the conflict to a successful termina
ton all the resources of the country
are hereby pledged by the congress of
the United States.
Champ Clark, speaker of the house
of representatives.
'Thomas r. Marshall, vice president
of the United States and president of
the senate
approved, 18th December, 1917.
''WoodrOw Wilson"
London causticaly Criticized.
In accord with President Wilson's
suggestion, action in respect to Turkey
and Bulgaria, Germany,s other allies,
was left to the future. Widespread
demand in congress for their inclusion
IN the declaration was indicated in
both senate and house debate, but
when the roll call came, the presi-
tents advice was followed in demon
stratiOn of American unity and har-
nony Representative London, social
st of New York, who cast the one
negative vote, explained his opposi.
ion by stating that he was pledged to
hat course by the socialist party.
Jaustic criticism of his position enliv-
med the house proceedings.
May Send Americans to Italy.
Necessity for the cooperative mill
airy action of the allies was the prin-
iple reason advanced in debate for /
Immediate passage of the Austrian s
esolution. Senator Stone said that ]
american troops might soon face Aus I
rian forces through extension of the :
western front to Italy, by the inter- 4
llied war council. He pointed out
hat the two nations actually have
een at war for months.
Miss Rankin voted for the war reso- 6
ution. f
Senator Lafollette was not in the +
enate chamber when the resolution r
vas voted on. V