Arizona republican., 1917-02-27

or the harborS of the eastern Mediter-
ranean, and to conduct those operations
without regard to the established re-
strictions of international practice.
without regard to any considerations of
humanity which might interfere with
their object. That policy was forth
with put into practice. 1t has now
been in active execution for nearly
four weeks.
Its practical results are not fully
disclosed. The commerce of other neu-
trail nations is suffering severely. but
not, perhaps, very much more severely
than ii was already suffering before the
first of February, when the new pollcy
Of the imperial government was put
into operation. We have asked the CO.
operation of the other neutral govern
ments to prevent these depredations,
but fear none of them thought it wise
to join US in any common course OF
action. Our own commerce has suf-
fered, is suffering rather in apprehen-
sion than in fact, rather because so
many of our ships are timidly keeping
TO their home ports than because
American ships have been sunk.
Two American vessels have been
sunk, the Housatonic and the Lyman
NJ Law. The case of the Housatonic,
which was carrying foodstuffs con-
signed to London, was essentially like
the case of the Frye, in which, it will
be recalled, the German government
admitted its liability for damages, and
the lives of the crew. as in the case OF
the Frye, were safeguarded with rea-
sonable care.
The case of the Law, which was car
rying lemon box slaves to Palermo, dis
closed a ruthlessness of method which
Il Ion
accompanied by no circumstances
which might not have been expected at
any time in connection with the use Of
the submarine against merchantmen as
the German government has used II.
IN sum, therefore, the situation we
find ourselves in with regard TO the
actual conduct of the German subma
rine warfare against commerce and its
effects upon our own ships and people
IS substantially the same as IL was
when | addressed you on the third of
February. except for the tying up of our
shipping in our own ports because oil
the unwillingness of our ship owners to
risk their vessels at sea without in
surance of adequate protection and the
very serious congestion of our COM
merce which has resulted. congestion
which is growing rapidly more and
more serious every day.
/ This in itself might presently ac-
| complish. in effect. what the new Ger
man submarine orders were meant to
accomplish, so far as we are concerned
| We can only say. therefore. that the
/ overt act which | have Ventured to
I hope the German commanders would in
| fact avoid has not occurred.
| But while this is happily true, II
must be admitted that there have been
certain additional indications and eX
pressions of purpose on the part of the
! German press and the German authori-
/ :ies which have increased rather than
| .essened the impression that, If our
ships and our people are spared II VIII
I be because of fortunate circumstances
or because the commanders of the Ger
man submarines which they may hap
pen encounter exercise an uneXpect-
1 ed discretion and restraint rather than
/ because Of the instructions under which
those commanders are acting.
1t would he foolish to deny that the
| situation is fraught with the gravest
possibilities and dangers. No thought
/ full man can fail to see that the neces-
sity for definite action may come at
any time. if we are in fact, and not in
word merely. to defend our elementary
rights as a neutral nation. 1t would be
most imprudent to be unprepared.
4 cannot i'm such circumstances be
unmindful Of the fart that the expira-
/ ton of the term OF the present con-
! gress is Immediately at hand by con-
stitutional limitations and that it would
/ in all likelihood require an unusual
/ length Of time to assemble and organ
1 ize the congress which is to succeed it
4 feel that | ought in view of that
/ fact. to obtain from you full and i'm
| mediate assurance of the authority
| which may need at any moment to eX-
! ercse No doubt | already possess
I that power without special warrant of
war. by the plain implication of my
constitutional duties and powers; but
! | prefer. in the present circumstances
not to act upon general implications.
Il wish to feel that the authority and
| the power of the congress are behind
me in whatever Il may become neces-
sary 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 il 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 methods
and the extent remain to be chosen,
upon the occasion. if occasion should
! indeed arise.
Since it has unhappy proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutral rights
| by diplomatic means against the UNI
warranted infringements they are SUI
| fering AT the hands of Germany. there
| may be no recourse hut to armed neu-
tralty. which we shall know how to
maintain and for which there is album
| dant American precedent
| 1t is devotedly to be hoped that II
| will not be necessary to put armed
| force anywhere into action. The Amer
| lean people do not desire il and our de-
| sire is not different from theirs. | am
sure that they viii understand the
| spirit in which | am now acting, the
purpose | hold nearest my heart and
would wish TO exhibit in everything |
| do. | am anxious that the people of the
nations at war also should understand
! and not mistrust us.
Il hope that | need give no further
proofs and assurances than ! have al
ready given throughout nearly three
years of anxious patience that ! am
the friend of peace and mean to pre-
serve it for America so long as ! am
| able. | am not now proposing or con-
| templating war or any steps that need
| lead to it.
Il merely request that you will ac-
| cord me by your own vote and definite
| bestoWal the means and the authority
| to safeguard in practice the right of
| great people who are at peace and
| who are DESTROYS of exercising none
| but the rights of peace. to follow the
pursuit of peace in quietness and good