The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-03-30
WILL ASK CONGRESS
TO MAKE DECLARATION
BELIEVED PRESIDENT HAS
REACHED DECISION.
Situation Has Been Changed in
No Way by German Chan
cellOr's Speech.

Washington, March 29.-While il
is assumed from the defensive meas
ures already taken by the military
arm of the government that Presi-
dent Wilson in addressing congress
next week will ask for war against
Germany or a declaration that a state
OF war exists, it is known that he will
speak along broad lines, dealine
briefly with incidents leading up to
the present crisis.
| Officials feel that the time is mas,
when incidentals should be discuss
ed and that henceforth only funda-
mental questions of both present and
future American safety should he
considered.
Inc general situation has not been
changed by the speech of the German
chancellor, Won Bethmann-HoIlwee
today, according to the view tonight
OF the officials who read press renorts
Iof the portion of the address dealinr
with the United States and subma.
rlne warfare. Germany, il was said
mas consistently attempted to Law th.
piame OF her acts on other nations.
only complete abandonment of un-
restricted submarine warfare could
change the attitude Of the Uniteo
States, it has been said semi-officiallv
recently, and press reports indicate
that the German chancellor did no,
even discuss that possibility.
Wants Quick Action.
The president, who will meet his
cabinet tomorrow for the last time
before beginning the actual writing
OF his message to congress, is hopeful,
that no time will be lost in organic.
ing the house so that he may deliver
his address as soon as possible.
The attitude OF both congress ana
public opinion is sought. AS to the
former the president is anxious no,
| to transgress the constitutional pre-
irogative OF congress as the war MAX
ing body.
Public opinion, il was said here, as
indicated by clippings from news
papers in all parts OF the country. un-
Imistakably favors decisive action,
Belligerency is not confined to the
Atlantic and Pacific sections. if opin>
ions gathered by the administration
are true index. Demand for action
by congress comes also from the in
terror sections between the Aneghan-
les and the Sierras.
The great point under considera-
tion by the administration is whether
Germany has not unmistakably
shown through a long succession OF
violations of international law that
the United States must definitely
unite wit. the liberal democrac les OF
the world against the four most com
plete autocracies both for its present
and IT'S future safety. All hope has
been lost as shown in the note to
Germany, on the treaty OF 1928, in
the good faith OF the present Ger
man rulers. The Belgian invasion
and deportations, ruthless submarine
warfare, attempts TO embroil neutral
countries in plots and the general
conduct OF the war have convinced
many officials that the German mill
tary system as at present directed is
a permanent danger to the worlds
peace.
Plots Proof OF Perfidy.
German plots in this country, run
ming back almost to the beginning of
the war, and finally eliminating in
the zimmerman note 20 ally Japan
and Mexico in war against this
country, are regarded as evidence Of
the general system. The admins
tration has much material not yet
made public and it is understood.
moreover, that the complete text of
the Zimmerman note has not been
published. Further disclosures of in.
trigues may be expected at any time
| Germany, through the GOODNESS
with which she treated the presi-
dents proposal to name peace terms,
) is felt to be the greatest source of
danger to world peace. Some off,
cials here who felt her original offer
was insincere and merely play for
domestic consumption believe her re-
fusal to state terms is proof OF that
contention.