Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-28
President Sends Message to
Congress When He Reads
of Latest Sub Raid.
NO DELAY TO BE SUFFERED
Confiscation, However, viii
Not Be Attempted; Will
Use Them During War.

RIO JANEIRO. Saturday, May %.
The Brazilian foreign minister today
presented TO congress message
signed by President Braz In which II
Is stated that the sinking " brazilian
merchantmen by German subma-
'In"s "bllfes the govcrpment TO take
measures Of defense against the Teu-
ton u-boats. The utilization. but not
confiscation. OF German vessels in
scsted.
inc text Of the message follows:
! nave the honor to bring today to
your knowledge confirmation OF the
Information which we have received
irom the Brazilian legation at Paris
concerning the sinking OF another
nraHlIlnn merchantman by the Ger
man submarine.
Germany Made Promises.
=, The entire nation Is cognizant OF
the atutGde which this government
uu"pted when Germany announced 20
an heutrals the establishment Of
submarine blockade, restricting as II
ala the freedom Of the seas and av
tending without distinction to coun-
tries not engaged in the conflict -ie
most violent process OF warfare. The
brazilian government then formulat
ed protest and after the sinking of
the steamship Parana broke off diplo-
matte relations with Germany.
Today the sinking of second
Steamship without warning and the
menace Of decreasing constantly our
shipping and foreign commerce
obliges the government to put into
practice measures of defense to be
| suggested by the high advisors of the
national congress.
However. the government In sub
mitting this matter for your consid
Grafton does not attempt to escape
the responsibility which is incumbent
! upon II or to give frankly it's opinion
which 1t is its duty to do
To Use German Boats.
The utilization OF the German
mcrchantmen interned I'm brazilian
seaports appears urgent to the gov
/ ernment. The idea of conflscation,
| however. Is excluded. this being re-
| pugnant TO the spirit OF our laws as
| wen as to the general feeling of the
country
THE utilization of these ships will
be found to he justified by the prin-
/ ciple of the convention signed at The
1 Hague in October, 1907. The vessel
| will he held without compensation
until we have been able to verify
! whether they are properties OF a pri-
ware character. (Which even in time
of war must be respected and which
! Brazil will do) or If they belong to
! enterprises having some connection
with the German government.
Whatever method is adopted II Is
essential the government can not suf-
! fer any delay I'm taking measures
| which are imposed at the same time
/ by the public interest and by the Dig
| nifty Of the nation.
"(Signed)
"WENCESLAO BRAZ."
Milo Pecanho, the Brazilian foreign
minister, today had a long conversa-
/ tion with Dr. Ruy Barbosa, a leading
/ PraZilan statesman. A conference
will be held tomorrow to discuss the
/ question of the governments foreign
| policy in which eX-President Rodri-
| guez Alves and the vice-president OF
| the republic will participate.
The representatives In congress
| from Rio Grandc do Sui favor the re-
vocation OF the neutrality declaration.