Evening journal., 1917-04-03

have called the Congress into ex-
traOrdinary session because there are
serious, very serious, choices Of pol
icy TO be made, and made immedi-
ately. which II was neither right nor
constitutionaily permissible that /
should assume the responsibility OF
making.
ON the third Of February last
officially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement Of the lmper-
ial German Government that on
and after the first day of February
Il was it's purpose TO put ASIDE an
restraint OF law or OF humanity and
use its submarines 70 sink every YES
sci that sought to approach either
the ports OF Great Britain ana Ire
land or the western coasts Of mroDe
or any OF the ports controlled By the
enemies Of Germany within the Medi-
terranean. That had seemed TO be
the object OF the German submarine
warfare earlier in the war, but sine"
April OF last year the Imperial GOV
eminent had somewhat restrained the
commander Of its undersea craft III
conformity with its promise then
given TO rs that passenger boats
should not be sunk, and that que
warning would be given to all other
vessels which its submarines might
seek to destroy when no resistance
WAS offered or escape attempted, ana
care taken that their crews were
given at least a fair chance to save
their lives in their open boats.
The precautions taken were meagre
and haphazard enough, as Yas prov
ed in distressing instance after IN
stance in the progress Of the cruel
and unmanly business, but certain
degree OF restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels OF every
Kind, Whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their errand, have been ruthiessly
sent 10 the bottom without warning,
and without thought Of help or mercy
for those on board, the vessels Of
friendly neutrals along with those Of
belTgerents.' Even hospital ships
and ships carrying relief to the sore
ly bereaved and stricken people OF
belgium. though the latter were pro-
vided with safe conduct through the
prescrlbed areas by the German Gov
eminent itself and were distinguished
bv unmistakable marks Of identity,
have been sunk with the same reck-
less lack of compassion or OF prin-
cipIe.
I was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would, IN
fact. be done by any Government that
had hitherto subscribed to the hu-
name practices of civilized nations
International law had its origin IN
the attempt to set up some law which
would be respected and observed
upon the seas, where no nation had
right Of dominion and where lay the
free highways OF the world BY pain
full stage after stage has that law
been built up with meagre enough
results. indeed, after all was accom-
plished that could be accomplished
but always with a clear view at leasl
OF what the heart and conscience o.
mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
Government has swept aside unael
the plea Of retaliation and necessity
and because II had no weapons whlcl
IL could use at sea except these, Whiol
il il ispossible to employ as 1t is EN-
ploying them without throwing TO I'M
winds all scruples Of humanity or o
fENnbEL lOI lllt uAAuNA hAeAAAAAHN NtfN-
were supposed to underlie the inter
course of the world
am not now thinking Of the los
OF property involved, immense an
serious as that is, but only OF tn
wanton and wholesale destruction q
the lives Of nOn-combatants, mel
women and children engaged in pur
suits which have always, even in tn
darkest periods of modern histor,
been deemed innocent and Legitimate
Property can he pad for; the live
Of peaceful and innocent people can
not be.
The present German warfar
against commerce is wartar
against all nations. American shir
have been sunk. American live
taken. in ways which has stirred u
very deeply to learn Of, but the shiI
and people of other neutral an
friendly nations have been sunk an
overwhelmed I'm the waters in u
same wav. There has been no di
elimination. The challenge is to a
mankind. Each nation must deciG
for itself how II will meet it. tt
choice we make for ourselves mu
he made with moderation of cOuns
and a temperatures of Judgment b
fitting our character and our motiv
as nation. We must put excited fee
ing away.
Our motive will not he revenge
tbe victorious assertion OF physic
might VI the nation, hut only u
yIndIcatlOn Of right, OF human rlgl
of which we are only a single chal
piOn.
When I addressed the Congress
the twenty-sixth of February last
thought that it would suffice to ass'
our neutral rights WITH arms. o
right to use the seas against unla
full interference, our right to keep o
people safe against unlawful vtolea
But armed neutrality, it now appea
Is impracticable. Because subn
rines are in effect outlaws when US
as the German submarines have be
used against merchant shipping, i
impossible to defend ships again
their attacks as the law OF matte
has assumed that merchantmen wol
defend themselves against privatei
or cruisers. visible craft giving Oh;
upon the open sea.
II Is common prudence in such
cumstances, grim necessity indeed.
endeavor TO destroy them before Il
have shown their own intention. IT
must be dealt with upon sight, If de
with al all.
The German Government denies
right of neutrals 20 use arms az
within the areas of the sea which