The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-30

added that should this confidence
prove unfounded. he should again come
before congress to ask that authority
be given him to use any means that
may be necessary for the protection
OF our seamen and our people in the
prosecution of their peaceful and legit-
innate errands on the high seas, He dis
claimed a desire for hostile conflict
with the imperial German government:
he declared that we are sincere
friends of the German people and earn
estly desire to remain at peace with
the government that speaks for them;
that we shall not believe that they are
\ hostile to us until we are obliged to
Nlbelieve it; and that we purpose moth
ing more than the reasonable defense
of the undoubted rights of our people;
that we wish to serve no selfish ends;
that we seek merely to stand true alike
in thought and in action to the i'm
memorial principles of our people,
merely to vindicate our right to liberty
and justice and an unmolested life.
The Presidents address closed with a
prayer that we might not be chal-
lenged to defend these rights by any
acts of wilful injustice on the part
OF the government of Germany.
Following up his announcement to
the senate of the severance of diplo-
matte relations between Germany and
the United States, the President in
structed the representatives of the
! United States in neutral countries to
inform the governments to which they
are accredited, of the step taken by
the President, and of his determine
| ton, in case Germany should do so. to
ask congress to authorize the use OF
Stional power to protect American
tizens engaged in their peaceful and
awful errands on the seas. The Ger
nan threat against all shipping within
the forbidden zone was put into ex-
and freight steamers have been sunk
without warning.
A startling disclosure, authorized by
the state department, was made by the
Associated Press on the first day Of
March. At the very time Germany was
processing a desire to maintain
friendly relations with the United
States, the foreign office at Berlin, was
taking measures to involve this cou1-
try in war with Mexico and Japan.
Evidence Of the existence of this plot
was given to the public by the publica-
ton Of a copy of instructions sent by
the German Foreign Minister thinner
mann, to the German minister at Mex
leo City. These instructions were
dated at Berlin, January 10, 1917.
On January 26, President Wilson ad-
dressed congress on the relations Of
Germany and the United States. De-
claring that no overt act had occurred
which should be considered a legiti-
mate cause for war, he drew attention
to the practical accomplishment of the
German threat, so far, at least, as
neutrals were concerned and the very
serious situation created by the timid-
ity of shipowners who were disinclined
to take the risks of sailing into the
barred zones. The situation, he said,
was fraught with the gravest possibili-
ties and dangers, and it was necessary
to be prepared. 49,
Here we will pass over the action Of
congress on the Presidents recon-
mendations regarding armed neutrality
and come directly to the formal declar-
alton of war. In answer to the Presi-
dents summons, congress convened on
April 2. The organization Of the house
having been completed the President
was informed that congress was ready
to receive his communication. The
same evening he entered the hall OF
the representatives and read his adj
dress. Not only were the representa-
tives and senators present, but the
justices of the supreme court and the
diplomatic corps.
The President asked congress to de-
clare that a state Of war exists between
the United States and Germany, and
also to take immediate steps to defend
the country. After summarizing the
negotiations between the two coun-
tries concerning Germany's submarine
operations, the latter's promise to OBJ
serve the rules Of international law and
her subsequent reputation of it, and
the active fulhlment, characterized by
reckless lack Of compassion or of prirl-
ciple, Of her new policy which went
into effect on February /, policy that
\ -. q
ing to the winds all scruples of human
ity or Of respect for the understand
ings that were supposed to underlie
the intercourse of the world. the Presi-
dent said: the present German war
against commerce is a warfare against
mankind. It is war against all ma
tons. American ships have been sunk,
American lives taken, in way which 1t
has stirred us very deeply to learn OF,
but the ships and people of other neu-
trail and friendly nations have been
sunk and overwhelmed in the waters
in the same way. There has been no
discrimination. The challenge is to all
mankind. Each nation must decide for
itself how it will meet it. He then
went on to say that armed neutrality,
which he had thought might suffice,
had proved impracticable.
The methods pursued by the COM
Hnanders of undersea craft made 1t
necessary to endeavor to destroy the
submarines, which in effect were
pirates before they made known their
Intentions Germany on the other hand
had denied the right to neutrals to use
arms at all in the prescribed area of
the sea, and had intimated that the
armed guards placed on board mer-
chantmen would be regarded as be-
yond the pale of the law and subject
To be dealt with like pirates. Armed
neutrality, under such conditions, the
President declared. was certain to draw
the United States into the war without
either the rights or effectiveness Of bell
ligerents. The President asserted that
we were entering the war only where
we were clearly forced into it, because
there was no other means of defending
our rights. He insisted again on the
sincerity Of our friendship for the Ger
man PEOPLE and the earnestness of our
desire to re- establish with them at an
early date friendly relations and de-
clared that the American people would
prove their friendship by our daily at
titude towards the millions of men and
women of German birth who live
amongst us and share our life. In con-
clusion. he said:
sIt is q distressing and oppres-
sive duty, gentlemen of the con-
gress which / have performed In
thus ADDRESSING you There are. II
may be, many months OF fiery trial
and sacrifice ahead OF us It is
fearful thing to lead this great,
peaceful people into war, into the
most terrible and disastrous of all
wars, civilization itself seeming to
be in the balance But the right is
more precious than peace, and we
shall fight for the things which we
have always carried nearest our
nearts-for democracy. for the
right Of those. who submit 70