The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-26

congress was partly caused by the
fact that Germany's campaign is keep.
ing American ships tied up in Amer
lean ports. Such Il condition, the
president will point out is unbear-
able.
Aiming American merchantmen or
conveying them through the war zone
are two methods of protecting Ameri-
can commerce being considered. En-
actly what steps will be taken has
not been revealed -i8 IA ~ 49, ~
Congress May Oppose
The president decided that before
Congress. adjourned for the session.
! it was necessary that he be given adj
dtional authority to protect American
rights. There had been reports that
such move be opposed in congress
but he decided to take the step re-
CARELESS of that.
In his address the President will
point out that Germany's acts since
the break in diplomatic relations in
dictate her determination to go for
ward with her campaign of ruthless
ness, despite the protests of neutrals
whose rights are invaded.
The President is represented as
confident that Congress will raise to
the occasion and promptly give him
the desired authority.
Anxious to Avoid War.
The President still is as anxious as
ever, it was said. to avoid war with
Germany, but is determined to protect
American rights.
President Wilson is still confident
that an extra session of Congress will
be unnecessary The situation oulin-
ed in his address, he believes. is such
that congress will give him the desir-
cd authority ungrudgingly. He has
carefully looked up the precedent and
found on previous occasions the Unit
ed States has taken the position of
armed neutrality without bringing
about war. This condition existed
once in relation to France, during the
directorate, when American ships
were attacked by French ships inter
fering with American commerce.
The president concluded it might
not be wise to await an overt act be-
fore asking additional authority OF
congress. The accumulation of vic.
lations of American rights and the
conditions brought about by the fail
ure of American merchantmen to
leave port brought him to the deci-
sion to act before congress adjourn
ed. ,,
Armed Neutrality.
Armed neutrality is described by
authorities on international law as
military measures for the purpose of
defending rights of neutrals against
threatened infringements on the part
of belligerent. 1t has generally
concerned more than one power, and
the most striking historical instances
of armed neutrality were those Of the
North European powers in 1880 and
1900, made to defend the principle of
free ships and free goods adopted by
treaty between the Baltic Powers and |
opposed by England.
. IF the commercial interests Of sew
eral nations" says one authority, "are
by unjust or unlawful
on the part of a belligerent,
which they deem unjust or dangerous
there can be no question Of their
right to secure their menaced inter-
ests by such combination as seem best
calculated to accomplish that pur-
pose.
can armed neutrality is in fact, an
alliance of several powers, usually OF
a defensive character, though this is
by no means essential"
Chairman Floor Immediately called
D meeting of the House Foreign Al
fairs Committee. he committee draft
ed a bill, which Chairman Flood had