Arizona republican., 1917-03-31
FORMAL. RECOGNITION
OF STATE OF WAR TO
COME FROM CONGRESS

quickly made known, time was found
for attention to Individual depart
mental matters. Later the president
conferred briefly with Secretaries
Baker ana Daniels, heads of the war
and navy departments.
There is said to have been no diff
ference of opinion in the cabinet on
the great question. The president S
advisers as we'll as official Wash
ington generally have long since ae- ,5
cepteG it as a fact that war actually
is being waged against the United
States.
Officials believe that Germany is
making war on this nation because
she has taken more than 240 Amer
lean lives on the high seas; because
she has destroyed American ships by
the wholesale; because millions of
dollars worth of damage has been
done as a result of German plots in
the United States. because she has
attempted to set on foot conspiracy
with Mexico and Japan to dismem-
ber the republic, and. finally, be-
cause of the belief that Germany,
triumphant, will constitute a future
menace to the peace of the world in
general and the United States in
particular.
The United States, it is empha-
sized in official quarters, has not
in the past and does not now desire
war with the German people; bur on
the German government responsible
ity is placed for terrorism or land
and sea, which now, that it has oeen
directed against American citizens
and American interests, must be
combated actively
Just what part the United States
will play is ? question the govern
ment has yet to determine. The
subject has been discussed generally
within the administration, but the
broad policy TO be pursued will be
developed only after the nations
status has been defined by congress
and urgent defense steps completed.
After the president has delivered
his address, congress is expected to
take under consideration promptly
the granting of large credit to the
government, and to provide for the
raising Of an army of perhaps 1,0O0,-
eco men. Other measures, such as a
censorship BIN. spy bill, the reg
ular army appropriation bill and
emergency legislation for the army
and navy also will be submitted.
The government, so far as is
known, has no plans for a political
alliance with the entente allies, al
though degree of military cooper
alton will be essential
Always in the presidents mind, it
is believed, will be the ultimate per
manent peace for which he already has
outlined his program-a league of ma
tions backed by moral and military
force.
AS summarized today everything thai
the government believes can be done
without congressional action to arm
against Germany either has been done
or has been planned.
Additional national guard units were
called out today to protect public
property.
There is understood to be a strong
probability that there will be several
important shifts of officers both II
the army and navy soon.
Since the severance of relations with
Germany everything possible has been
done towards getting Americans out
of that country. With the last fou1
consuls safe on Swiss soil today, very
few Americans remain under German
control except the AZ Belgian relief
workers who still have two weeks
news quarantine" to fulfill under theil
agreement. A few other citizens re-
main in Germany, but they are thought
to be largely German Americans who
remain by preference.
What day the president will appear
before congress to deliver his message
will not be fixed until it is seen how
long it will take the public to organize
The administration hopes this will no
take more than one or two days.
1t is realized that there will be somt
opposition in congress, but summarize
of public opinion collected by Officials
have convinced the administration tha
the nation will stand almost solidl,
behind any action the president may
recommend.
/ The pacifist element both insid,
congress and outside will make itsel
heard before a decision is reached
Monday delegations of opponents o
war will come here to attempt to in
fluence congress.
The president has entirely recov
cred from the cold which kept him il
bed recently for more than a week.
While the details of the conference
between the president and Secretarie
+ Baker and Daniels after the cabine
' CONTINUED on Page Three)