Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-02
Presidents Address to Congress Asking
Authority to Arm Merchantmen
delivered a
ports of Sinking Were Being
trail nation. 1t would be most
imprudent to be unprepared.

trail nation. 1t would be most
imprudent to be unprepared.
l can not in such circumstances be
unmindful of the fact that the ex-
piration of the term of the present
congress is Immediately at hand, by
constitutional limitations, and that it
would in all likelihood require an
unusual length of time to assemble
and organize the congress which is
to succeed it.
Wants Congress Back of Him.
feel that / ought, in view of that
fact, to obtain from you full and i'm
mediate assurance of the authority
which I may need at any moment to
exercise. No doubt, / already pos
sess that power without special war;
rant of war, by the plain implication
of my constitutional duties and pow
ers; but l prefer, in the present cir
cumstances, not to act upon general
implication. wish to feel that the
authority and the power of the con-
gress are behind me in whatever it
may become necessary for me to do.
We are Jointly the servants of the
people and must act together and in
their spirit, so far as we can divine
and interpret it.
No one doubts what it is our
duty to do. We must defend
our commerce and the lives of
our people in the midst of the
present trying circumstances,
with discretion but with clear
and steadfast purpose. Only the
method and the extent remain to
be chosen, upon the occasion, If
occasion should indeed arise.
Armed Neutrality Next Move.
Since it has unhappily proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutral
rights by diplomatic means against
the unwarramted infringements they
are suffering at the hands of Ger
many, there may be no recourse but
to armed neutrality, which we shall
know how to maintain and for which
there is abundant American prece-
dent.
1t is devoutly to be hoped that it
will not be necessary to put armed
force anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire It and
our desire is not different from theirs.
I am sure that they will understand
the spirit in which I am now acting,
the purpose hold nearest my heart
and would wish to exhibit in every
thing do.
am anxious that the people of the
nations at war also should under
stand and not mistrust us. hope
that I need give no further proofs
and assurances than l have already
given throughout nearly three years
of anxious patience that I am the
friend Of peace and mean to preserve
1t for America so long as / am able.
I am not now proposing or
contemplating war or any steps
that need lead to it. l merely
request that you will accord me
by your own vote and definite
bestowal the means and the au-
thority to safeguard in practice
the right Of great people who
are at peace and who are desir-
GUS Of exercising none but the
rights Of peace to follow the pur-
suit Of peace in quietness and
good will-rights recognized
time out of mind by all the civil
ICED nations of the world. No
course Of my choosing or of
theirs will lead to war. War can
come only by the willful acts
and aggression Of others.
Action Cannot BE FOrecasted.
You will understand why can
make no definite proposals or fore
casts of action now and must ask for
your supporting authority in the
most general terms. The form in
which action may become necessary
can not yet be foreseen.
I believe that the people will be
willing to trust me to act with re-
straint, with prudence and in the true
spirit of amity and good faith that
they have themselves displayed
throughout these trying months, and
1t is in that belief that I request that
you will authorize me to supply our
merchant ships with defensive arms,
should that become necessary, and
with the means of using them, and to
employ any other instrumentalities or
methods that may be necessary and
adequate to protect our ships and our
people in their legitimate and peace
full pursuits on the seas.
request also that you will grant
me at the same time, along with the
powers I ask, sufficient credit to en-
able me to provide adequate means
of protection where they are lacking,
including adequate insurance against
tho DreSant war risks