Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-11


pears, Is fnpracticaoIe. Because sub
marines are IN effect outlaws when
used as the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping.
y is impossible 20 defend ships against
their rttacks. as the law OF nations
has assumed that merchantmen would
defend themselves against priyateers
or cruisers, visible craft giving chase
upon the open sea.
GERMAN GOVERNMENT DENIES
RIGHT or kEuTRALS TO USE 49,.
ARMS TO DEFEND RIGHTS
~ II IL common prudence in such cir.
cumstances, grim necessity indeed, to
endeagor to destroy them before they
have shown their own intention. They
. must be dealt with upon sight, II dealt
with at all. i
The German Government denies the
within the areas OF the sea which Ii
has prescribed, even IN the defense
Of rights which no modern publicist
! has ever before questioned their right
TO defend. Armed neutrality is ineffec-
tual enough at best; In such circum-
stances and In the face OF such preten.
sions II Is worce than Intellectual; It
Is likely once 10 produce what II was
meant 10 prevent; II is practically Ger.
tain 60 draw US into the war without
either the rights or the effectiveness
Of beIligerents.
There lie one choice we cannot make,
we are incapable of making. We win
not choose the path OF submission and
S.sNHn Trfrrhf1 Of
nation and our people to be ignored
or violated The wrongs against
which we now array ourselves are not
common wrongs; they cut TO the very
roots Of human life.
with,a profound sense OF the solemn
and even tragical character Of the step
am taking and OF the grave RESPONSE
bilities which It involves, but in un.
hesitating obedience to what deem
my constitutional duty, advise that
Congress declare the recent course OF
the imperial German Government to
be In fact nothing less Than war
against the government and people
Of the United States: that II formally
accept the status Of belligerent which
has thus been thrust upon ii, and that
Il takeimmediate steps not only to put
the county IA more thorough state
OF defense, but also 10 exert all its
power and employ all its resources
70 bring the government OF the Ger.
man empire to terms and end the war.
DEFINES WHAT WAR WILL
INVOLVE, URGES COOPERATION
WITH ENTENTE ALLIES
What. this will involve = clear. II
VIII Involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments, now at war with Ger
many. and, as incident 10 that, the ex.
tension 10 thoSe governments OF the
most liberal financial credits, In order
that our EesQurces may, 80 far IS pos
slble. be added to theirs. II viii IN
F0lye the organization and mobilisa-
ton OF al the material resources Of
the country TO supply the materials
OF war and serve the Incidental needs
or the nation IN the most abundant,
and vet the most economical and eff
cient way possible, II win involve
the ifnmediate full equipment OF the
navy In al respects. but particularly
IN supplying q with the best means
OF dealing with the enemy's subma-
rines. 1t viii involve The immediate
addition to the armed forces OF the
gnItod> States already provided for by
law IN case of war, at least 100000
men, who should, In my opinion, be
chosen upon the principle Of universal
liabilitY OF service, and also the auth
orization Of subsequent additional In
crements Of equal force 50 soon as
thes mas be needed and can be
handled IN training.
MUST 4sicLupE GRANTING or
HUGE CREDITS 70 FOES or
eGeKMANY
: II WIN involve also, Of course, the
grsinlne of adequate credits to the
Government, sustained, I hope, 70 far
~ they Gun eQCitably be sustained
BY the present generation by we'll.
icancespod taxstlon. I say sustained
so far q may he equitable BY taxa.
ton, because Il seems TO me that Il
would be most unwise to base, the.
credits which will bow be necessary
10 protect lur people as Tar as We
may against he very serious hard
ships and evils which would be likely
70 arise ont Of the initiation which
would be produced Gy vast loans.
In carrying out the measures BY
watch these things are &c be accom-.
piished we should keer constantly in
mind the wisdom Of Interfering as
little as possible In our own prepare
ton ana in the equipment OF our own
military forces with the duty-f0r Il
win he a very nrnotical duty-of sup