, 1917-11-08

~ @1Ahs DfcEthuut SnlpDIuK
Ills impossible to defend ships against
tneir attacks, ms the law of nations has
assumed that merchantmen would de-
emu themselves against privateers or
ui.ers' visible craft giving chase up
On the open sea. 1t is common pru-
oence In such circumstances grim nee
esslty indeed. to endeavor to destroy
.he" perore they have shown their own
intention. They must be dealt with up
on sight, n dealt with mt all.
ihe German government denies the
rlght or neutrals to use arms at all
witnih the areas of the sea which II
mas prescribed even in the defense of
lights which no modern publicist has
ever oeIore Questioned their right to
defend. The intimation is conveyed that
the armed guards which we have
placed on our merchant ships will be
treated as beyond the pale of law and
subject to be dealt with as pirates
would be. Armed neutrality IL inenec-
tuai enough at best, In such circum-
stances and In the face of such preten-
sIons 1t liz worse than Intellectual, IL is
likely only to produce what Il WINS
meant to prevents 1t Il practically GER
tain to draw MS Into wa without either
the rights or the effectiveness of the bel
hgerents. There II one choice we can
not make, we are Incapable of making.
we VIII not choose the path Of submIs-
sion and suffer the most sacred rights
OF our nation and our people to be Ig-
nored or violated. The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are no
common wrongs, they cut to the very
roots of human life.
with n profound sense of the solemn
and even tragicnl character of the step
i am taking and of the grave responsi-
bilities which 1t Involves, but in un-
hesitating obedience to what / deem
my constitutional duty. l advise that
the congress declare the recent course
of the Imperial German government to
De In TACT nnthinO 1naC than urar
against the government and people of
the United States: that II formally ac-
cept the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon 1t; and that it
take immediate steps not only to put
the country in a more thorough state
of defense. but also to exert all its
power and employ all its resources to
bring the government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
What his will involve is clear. 1t
VIII involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and as Incident to that, the ex-
tension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits. in order
that our may so far as pos
sible be added to theirs.
1t will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials of wal and serve the Incl
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
1t will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects.
but particularly in supplying 1t with
the best means of dealing with the enc
nv.e suhuorinas
III -.
ton to the armed forces of the United
States. already provided for by law in
- VI az tea9t oVV,V'O men
49,, ~ opnIn, y ,IasS
~, 60 .a.I.a - - - a..tIa
~ u serNlSe' anu also me authoElZa-
uon Va auu'ttonai
- u ~ 80 a .
.naS W "ee"eu anu %" oe ha"uieu l"
IL WIN ihNoi.e "is"' OF course tne
srnhtihE OF "oeqnate creni's 10 the
soNerh"eh'' SuSthiheu' ! nope 80 lar
ns 'heg can eauitaDi. ne sustaineu ny
the present generation ny "eh-con-
eei'ed 'aAhtoh'
say sustained 80 far as may be
equitnDie by 'hNht,on' because II seems
TO me that IL would be most unwise TO
base the credits, which will now be
necessary. entirely on money borrowed.
IL Is our duty, ! most respectfully urge
to protect our people, 80 tar as we
may. against the very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
to arise out of the imitation which would
he, produced by vast loans.
In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to he accom-
pII.bed we should keen constantly In
mind the wisdom of Interfering ns lit
tie ms possible In our own preparation.
and In the equipment of our own mill
tary forces with the duty-for II will
he n very practical duty-of supplying
the u.tions already mt war with Ger
many with the materials which they
can obtain only from us or by our as-
sistnnce. They are In the field. and we
should help them In every way to be
effective there.
ing. through the several executive de-
partments of the government, for the
confederation of your committee.
measures for the accomplishment OF
a.. ..yeraI objects I have mentioned.