, 1917-11-08

StnIItIIltH u lHt SoIkTtSS.
/ have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
rious. very serious. choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately. which
II Is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that I should assume the re-
s~ponsibillty Of making.
On the Sd of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the LIST
day of February 1t was its to
put aside all restraints of law or OF hu-
manity and use its subma rines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any of the ports controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean. That had seemed to be the
object of the German submarine war
fare earlier in the war. but since April
Of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of its undersea craft, in conform
ity with its promise, then given to us,
TINT passenger boats should not he
sunk. and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which Its
submarines might seek to destroy.
when no resistance was offered or es-
cape m ana care taken that
their crews were given Mt least n fair
chance to snv their Hives In their open
boats. The precautions taken were
menger and ~haphnzard enough, ms was
proved in distressing instance after
Instance In the progress of the cruel
and humanity business. hut n certain de-
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside. Vessels of every kind,
whatever their flag. their character
their cargo. their destination their
errnnd. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
1 ont tIpnpht If holm or marcy for thnSn
on board. the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the sorely berenved and strick-
en- people of Belgium though the lat
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished by unmistaknble marks
Of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
OF principle.
l was for n little while unable to
believe thnt such things would In fact
he done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
nhtionnI law had Its origin In the at
Tempt to set up some law which would
lbe respected and observed upon the
,-ens. where no nation had right of
hominion and where lay the free high
ways Of the world. BY painful stage
Fhiter stage has that law been built up
Iwith meager enough results. indeed.
fatter All was accomplished that could
be accomplished, but always with n
fienr view, at least, of what the heart
|hnd conscience of mankind demanded.
RMS minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
pea OF retaliation and necessity and
because 1t had no weapons which 1t
ould use at sea except these. which
" impossible to employ as 1t is EN-
iI"Ning them. without throwing to the
nihd all scruples of humanity or of
aspect for the understandings that
fNtte supposed to underlie the inter
a curse of the world.
J am not now thinking of the ldss OF
property involved. immense and serious
mat Is. but only of the wanton and
INh"lrsale destruction of the lives of
'"-''mhatants men. women and chill
rem engaged In pursuits which have
l"hSH' even In the periods OF
honern history, been deemed Innocent
~" legitimate. Property can he paid
TT the lives OF peaceful and Innocent
Pe"ple "nnnOt he. The present German
uhmarine warfare against m
a warfare against mankind.
u Is Il war against all nations. Amer
hh ships have been sunk, American
t,heH taken, In ways which Il has
nFred Us very deeply to learn of. hut
t ships mad people of other neutral
u friendly nations have been sunk
"u overwhelmed In the waters In the
""r way. There has been no dis
friminattnn.
'he challenge La Ia all mankind.
avn ,n'tion must decide for itself how
WIN meet it, The choice we make
ourselves must be made with a
ou'r'tion Of counsel and a temper
ehe7S Of judgment betting our
"''tter and our motives as a nation.
must put excited feelings away.
.| ' ulhllNe Will not he revenge or the
Hl''lpus assertion of the physical
OF the nation. but only the vim
OF right, of human right. OF
IN We are only a single champion.
"n.n addressed the on
-pth OF February last l thought It
,lIN suffice to assert our neutral rights
''ns, our right TO use the seas
%nAt unlawful interference, our right
N'eh our people safe against unlRyy-
'i"lehce. But armed neutrality, IT