Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-27
Wilson Seeks Power
to akeNeededSteps
in U-Boat Situation
the German commanders would in fac,
avoid has not occurred
ADDITIONAL. lNDICATIuNS
INCREASE. APpRF,IENSIOS

. a.
ADDITIONAL. .INUIrATIuNS
INCREASE APPREHENSION
But while this is happily true.
/ must bc admitted that there have boon
I certain additional indications and cX-
/ nrcssions "f purpose on the part of the
i GERMAN press and the German authori-
tics which have Increased rather than
'"SScnod the impression that. IL our
! ships and our peopl" are spared, il will
h" because Of fortunate circumstances
j or h"caia. tlic commanders OF the Ger
man submarines which they may hap
pen 10 encounter exercise an uncXpcct ed
discretion and restraint. rather than
I because of the instructions under which
/ those rommnndrrs are acting.
I "it would he foolish to deny tina: the
situation is 'fraught with the gravcst
/ possibilities and dangers No thought :
. iul man can fail 10 see that the ncccs-
! SHY Tor definite action may come a [
any tlmr. u we are. in act. and not
IN word merely. t" defend our clcmcn-
tary rights as neutral nation. |,
would be most imprudcnt To be un-
! prepared.
II cannot i'm such circumstances be
unmindful of the fact that the cxpira
ton OF the term of the present Con-
gross is Immediately Mt hand. by con-
sttutional limitation and that il
would. in all likelihood. require an un-
usual length Of time to assemble and
organize the Congress which is to sue
r""d IT. feel that ought, in view
OF that fact. to obtain from YOU full
and immediate assurance of the au-
thority which ! may feel at any mo-
mcnt Ia exercise.
authority without special warrant OF
law, by the plain implication of my
constitutional duties and powers; but
I ! prefer, i'm the present circumstances.
not to act upon general implications |
wish to feel that the authority am
power of the Congress arc behind me
in whatever il may become necessary
for me To do. We are Jointly the SER
wants OF the people. and must act to-
Gether ana in their spirit. so far as
! we can divine and interpret it,
MUST DEFEND COMMERCE.
AND LIVES OF PEOPLE
''No one doubts what IL is our duty
To do We must defend our commerce
ana the lives of our people in tn
midst Of the present trying circun-
stances. with discretion. but with ceay
and steadfast purpose. Only the
method and the extent remain To be
chosen. upon the occasion, if occasion
should indeed arise
Since it has unlappily proved i'm
possible L" safeguard our neutral
rights by diplomatic means against
the unwarrantcd infrngemcnts they
are suffering at the hauds of German,
there may he no recourse but to armed
neutrality, which We shall know ho,,
to maintain. and for which there is
abundant American precedent.
'.it is dcvoutly To be hoped that II
! viii not he necessary to put armed
| force anywhere into action Tho
! American people do not desire it. and
our desire is not different from theirs
| am sure that they will understand
| tn. spirit in which am now acting
tho purpose hold nearest my heart
ami would wish to exhibit in ercry-
thing | do
~ ann anxious that tho people of the
nations a, war also should understand
and not distrust us. hope that need
give no further proofs and assurances
than have already given throughout
nearly three years OF anxious pat thence
that am the friend of peace and mean
10 preserve il for America SO long as
am able
II am not now proposing or CON
tcmpiatinS war or any steps that nee.
lead To IT, | merely request that you
VIII accord me, by your own vote and
definite bcstowal. the means and the
authority 10 safeguard in practice the
right Of a great people who are at
peace. and who arc DESTROYS OF cNer-
cisinG none but the rights of peace to
follow the pursuit Of peace IN uuiet-
ness and good -will---rights recognized
| time out OF mind by all the civilized
nations of the world. No course of my
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