The Washington times., 1917-02-07
Works of California Voices First
Protest to Presidents Sev-
erance of Relations.
SAYS U. S. IS NOT NEUTRAL
Declares German Empire Had
No Right to Feel Friendly
Towards America.

right of the United States to the seas.
that this nation has borne these vio-
lations as il it had been an ally OF
Great Britain, and that Germany had
no reason to feel friendly toward the
United States, Senator John d. Works,
Republican, OF California. yesterday
voiced the first opposition heard in
Congress to the Presidents action in
severing diplomatic relations with
Germany.
Admitting that Germany had vio-
lated the rights OF American citizens
OF the seas under international law,
Works said:
II protest against this or any other
movement that tends toward war
with Germany for no greater cause
than has yet been given"
Protest Unexpected.
The address of Works came as
bolt from clear sky. The Senate
had been expected to adopt without
protest Senator Stones resolution in
dorsing the break with Germany.
Republican leaders had Joined with
Democratic members OF the Senate in
pledging support to the President.
This is a first and long step
AoNdTu war Win lndl
Works. "If this shall happen, as
now seems almost inevitable. we are
assuming the fearful responsibility OF
leading. not only our own country.
but other nations now at peace, into
the most gigantic and murderous war
the world has ever known.
First Fatal Move.
"The President has made the first
fatal move" added Works.
The President has been spplsuded
for making this FIRST move toward
war.
THE public mind has been prepared
for such a mad course by the un-
seemIy and unpatriotic propaganda in
favor of Preparedness for war"
Works said that in order to deal
frankly with the situation 1--WE must
search our own national conscience
and learn how far our own conduct
has gone to place US in the present
crisis"
Contributed to Disaster.
The first and most cruel wrong
done to the rights of American citi-
zens by the German, government was
in sinking the Lusitania," said Works.
and it was q cruel and unjust wrong
TO our people and to the nation. But
IL is well for US to consider in this
connection how far We ourselves. By
our own course of action. contributed
TO this loss Of American lives. At the
very time OF this occurrence We were
supplying to the enemies of Germany
arms and munitions of war to enable
them to carry on the war against
that country with whom we are at
peace.
Loaded with Munitions.
The Lusitanis, a passenger ship,
was loaded with these missiles of
death.
Many a German soldier had met
htk death in the trenches, many o,ncrs
had returned to their homes MANNED
for life, many widows and orphans
were mourning their dead as the re-
suit OF the nefarious trade of Ameri-
can citizens in war munitions.
Before the Lusitania sailed warn
ing was given that she would be tor
pedoed IL she attempted to cross the
ocean freighted with a cargo that
meant death and destruction to Ger
man subjects"
Works then criticised the Admins
tration for permitting the Lusitania
to sail carrying American citizens in
to the very jaws OF death.
"FiEhtinE Fer Life
Germany was fEhting for her life"
said Works. What could have been
expected OF Germany under such cir
cumstances?"
Works then said he questioned tn.
-. -
tempt Germany to sink the Lusi-
tania-"
This Government cannot shield itself
from the fearful responsibility it is
bound to accept for this dreadful trag-
edy." said Works
Britain CuIpabIe.
Great Britain has persistentIy vio-
lated our rights on the sea as q neutral
She searched our ships. riied our mails,
and treated our rights with contempt
We have borne these wrongs with as
great degree of forbearance as il we |
bad been an ally Of Great Britain.
This was the unhappy condition when (
the Sussex was sunk and more Ameri- !
can lives sacrificed. Certainty Germany |
has no reason to feel kindly toward US.
Conditions Govern.
''She must be judged az we must. !
by the conditions as they then existed;
conditions brought about by us for /
merely commercial gain at the ex-
pense of German lives" said Works.
Works credited President Wilson
With conscientious motives and pa.
triotic purposes" in all his actions.
but added:
with a profound sense of nv own
responsibility as a representative Of
the American people, protest
against this or any other movement
that tends toward war with Ger.
many for no greater cause than has
yet been given US. II is charged
against the German government that
she not only violated the rights OF
American citizens on the sea, but that
she has violated her solemn promise
made to this Government, not to fur
ther engage i'm the sort of submarine
that resulted in the sinking
OF the Lusitanis. That Germany has
v iolated the rights of our people on
the sea under international law, no
one can deny. But so has Great
and so would any other
belligersnt nation fighting for exIs-
tence, IL necessary for her success.
so would We under the same cir
'hmstsnceG. So. ss 10 that phase Of
Ihe controversy the question L..
should we 70 20 war with Germany
Db that account L cannot hiring INV.