Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-30
ALL HOPE |SLOST
IN GOOD FA|THOF
PRESENT RULERS
Full Cooperation With AL
lies Favored as Neces-
sity for America.
FUTURE SAFETY OF THIS
NATION DEPENDS ON STEP
Public Opinion in All Sections Of
Country Unmistakably for
Decisive Action.
MORE PLOTS MAY BE REVEALED
Situation Not Changed by Speech OF
Chancellor Won Bethmann.
Hollweg.
MORE PLOTS MAY BE REVEALED
Situation Not Changed by Speech OF
Chancellor Won Bethmann.
Hollweg.
rRy Assnc,atadpr.as1 l

fRy Associated Press.]
WASHINGTON. March o9.-while II
lis assumed from the defensive meas.
ures already taken by the military arm
or the government that President Will
son. in addressing Congress next weak.
VIII ask for war against Germany, or n
declaration that "a state Of war exists,
IL Is known that he will speak along
. oroad lines dealing lightly with incl
oehtS Ieading up TO the present crisis.
oilicials feel now that the time Is
past when incidentals should be dis
cussed. and henceforth that only funda-
mental questions Of both present and
future American sufety should be con-
sidered. AS result. the President, Is
gathering opinions and suggestions
from all sides as to the sort of address
to make in the coming crucial hours.
The general situation has not been
changed by the speech Of the German
Chancellor. Won Bethmann- Hollweg. to-
day. according to the view tonight OF
OFFICIALS who read press reports of the
portion OF the address dealing with the
United States and submarine warfare.
ALWAYS LAYS BLAME
on OTHER NATIONS
attempted TO lay the blame for her acts
on other nations. On previous occa-
sions President Wilson has taken the
position that Germany is in no way
justified in carrying OH submarine
ruthlessness because Of the British
blockade.
Only complete abandonment of un-
restricted submarine warfare could
change the attitude OF the United
states. II has been said scmiohiciall,-
recently. and press reports indicate
that the German Chancellor did not
even discuss the possibility
The President Will meet his Cabinet
tomorrow for the last time before be-
ginning the actual writing Of his mes
sage to Congress. and. therefore, 1t is
expected that the German situation
will be dealt with very fully. He is
hopeful that no time will he lost in
organizing the House, that he may
deliver his address as soon as possible
after the extra session convencs
The attitude OF both Congress and
public opinion is sought in order to
represent both As fully as possible. AS
TO the former, the President Is anxious
not TO transGress the constitutional
prcroGativeS of Congress as the war
making body. 1t is realized that In the
ultimate analysis. regardless OF what
the President may recommend. the re-
sponsiblity for decision rests there
BELLIGERENCY NOT CONFINED
TO SEABOARD SECTIONS
Public opinion, II was said here, as
indicated by clippings from newspa-
pers in all parts of the country. unmis-
takably favors decisive action. Eel
ligerency is not confined to the Atlantic
and Pacific sections. IL opinions gath
cred by tho administration are true
index. Demand for action on the part
of the Congress and the President
comes also from the interior section be-
tween the .tlleghanies and the Sierras.
The views reported by some Mid
Western congressman as to the apathy
OF their constituencies is considered
more local than general.
The greatest point under considera-
ton by the administration al the pres
cnt time is whether Germany has not
Enthusiastically shown, through long
succession of violations OF internal
tional law. that the United States must
definitely unite with the liberal denoc-
racies OF the world against the tore
most complete autocracy. both for its
present and its future safety All hope
has been lost. AS shown in the nbte
TO Germany to the treaty OF Is2s.
in the good faith OF the present Ger
man rulers The Belgian invasion and
deportations. the ruthless submarine
warfare, the attempts to embroil nsu-
tral countries III plots. and the general
conduct OF war have convinced many
officials that the German military sys-
tenn as 1T present directed is Il per-
manent danger to the worlds peace.
PLOTS SHOW EVILS OF
GPfsGRAL SYSTEM
German plots in this country. run.
ming back almost to the beginning OF
the war. and finally eliminating ia
the zimmerman note to ally Japan
and Mexico in war against this coun-
try. arc regarded as evidence of the
evil of the general system.
The administration has much ma.
teriai not yet made public. and II IS
understood, moreover. that the COM
plcte text OF the zimmerman note
has not been published. Further dis