The Carlisle independent., 1917-12-13
DECLARES WAR ON
AUSTRIAN HUNGARY
1T BECAME EFFECTIVE AT sos r.
VI. WHEN 1T WAS SIGNED BY
EXECUTlVE-NO FORMALlTY.
HOUSE VOTE WAS 1853 TO |
Response of Congress To Presidents
Request is Similar To That Adopted
April s, Declaring War
With Germany.

Washington.-War between the
United States and Austria Hungary
has been formally declared.
Congress. with one dissenting vote
In the House, adopted, and President
Wilson approved, a resolution declar-
ing the existence of state of war be-
tween the imperial and royal Aus
tro-Hungarian government and the
government and people of the United
States" authorizing the president to
employ the nations armed forces and
pledging its resources to victory.
The resolution, the response OF
Congress to the presidents request in
his address last Tuesday, is similar
to that adopted April g. declaring war
with Germany. 1t became effective
at 5:03 p. M, when it was signed by
the executive without formality An
executive proclamation will follow
soon.
After but one hours debate, the
resolution was unanimously adopted
by the Senate, "a members voting. 1t
was approved by the House, 1863 TO
1, Representative London, the New
York Socialist, casting the only dis
senting vote. A few minutes later
Vice President Marshall and Speaker
Clark had signed the document and
sent 1t to the White House. where
President Wilson signed 1t with Sec
rotary Tumulty and Assistant Secre-
tary Forster as the only witnesses.
The Resolution.
The resolution follows:
Joint Resolution:
Declaring that state of war eI-
lists between the imperial and royal
Austro-Hungarian government and
the people of the United States, and
making provision to prosecute the
same.
Whereas. The imperial and royal
Austro-Hungarian government has
committed repeated acts of war
against the government and the peo-
pie of the United States of America,
therefore be it
Resolved, by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Unit
ed States of America, in Congress as
sembled, that state of war is hereby
declared to exist between the United
States of America and the imperial
and royal Hungarian govern
ment, and that the president be, and
he is hereby authorized and directed,
to employ the entire naval and mill
tary forces of the United States and
the resources OF the government to
carry on war against the imperial and
royal Austro-Hungarian government:
and to bring the conflict to a success
full termination all the resources of
the country are hereby pledged by
the Congress of the United States.
Champ Clark, Speaker of the House
of Representatives
Thomas r. Marshall, Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, and
President of the Senate
Approved: December 7, 1917.
Woodrow Wilson"
Presidents Suggestion Followed.
In accord with President Wilson's
suggestion, action in respect to TNur-
key and Bulgaria, Germany's other al
lies, was left to the future Wide
spread demand in Congress for their
inclusion in the declaration was indi-
Gated in both Senate and House de-
bate, but when the roll calls came,
the presidents advice was followed in
a demonstration of American unity
and harmony. Representative Lon
don explained his opposition by say
ing he was pledged to that course by
the Socialist party Bitter criticism
of his position enlivened the House
proceedings.
Debate in both houses was unex-
pectedly brief, lasting but an hour in
the Senate and only two hours AMI
40 minutes in the House Also in
sharp contrast to the discussion
which preceded the war declaration
against Germany last April, it was al
most devoid of spectacular features,
despite the dramatic setting furnish
ed by crowded galleries. Members
apparently acted in common accord 10
expedite action, the few who spoke
refraining from extended discussion
Senate Acts First.
The Senate acted first on the reso-
luton, presented by Chairman Stone,
with the unanimous endorsement of
the Foreign Relations Committee,
soon after the Senate concluded rcu-
tine business. After brief addresses
by Senators Stone Lodge and Hitch