New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
DECLARE WAR AT ONCE!
The First Step Toward Recovering Our
Lost Prestige
To The Editor % The Tribune.

To the Editor % Tbs Tribune
Sir: The great outstanding fact in the
present serious situation, now that the
United States has broken of relations with
Germany is cause for great rejoicing:
namely. that the United States has almost
regained it. priceless prestige. say al
most" for several reasons. First, because
the United States will not completely regain
il. prestige until We declare war with Ger
many Second, because, even after we de-
clare war, we shall not maintain our prestige
unless VIC do our full share OF the hght'ng
Now that President Wilson has taken the
long deferred step. all true Americans Will
stand by him, and will hope that no criticism
Of the Executive may be necessary.
It is with regret, therefore, that venture
to point out the following facts, which, Ii
my opinion, must be faced, and faced very
soon. if the United States is to play greF I
part. or even an honorable part, in the
world. or TO safeguard its future:
/. President Wilson should at once an
nounce the necessity for arming American
merchantmen, not astern, but forward and
abeam.
>. He should ask Congress to declare war
not on account Of an covert act" alone, but
on account of the violation Of the principle
involved in case like the sinking of the
California, which put the life of an American
citizen Gin jeopardy" whether this life was
lost or not.
3. The longer a declaration OF war is de-
layed the more will Germany's course be
justified" by the holding of American mer-
chantmen in port.
4. The killing of an American citizen, black
or white, illegally, must be considered, by
the Presidents own definition, an covert
act"
;. Universal service, both for the army and
the navy. and for any work connected with
war preparation, should be established by
law and planned in detail and put in force
gradually wherever it is found necessary.
6. Having declared war, we should join the
Entente Allies and cooperate with them IN
securing the defeat of Germany This is ABB
solutely necessary during the remainder OF
the war II need not affect our policy Tor
one moment after the war is over.
:. Our conduct of the war should be &C
organized as not to interfere with the plans
or the supplies Of the Entente nations.
8. The United States government should
contribute its full share Of the funds neces-
sary for Belgian relief, and should join the
Entente Allies in any steps which may be
taken to insure the continuance Of the G. Il.
r. work under Mr. Hoover or his neutral sue
cessor
Q There must come time when il Ger
many continues to hold American citizens
as hostages, further delay in declaring war
on that account must become unbesrable, and
II. after war is declared, harm is done 70
our nationals in Germany we must carry oui
reprisals. If Germany finds that by holding
our citizens as hostages she can indefinitely
delay or prevent our entrance into the war
she will. of course, be able to thwart all our
purposes.
10 The OBTAINING of Ambassador Gerard
il in itself an act of war and must be so
considered ultimately. even it, for some
reason. we give Germany time to recant.
H. The worst possible danger is that no
covert act" will occur owing to luck or 70
the present virtual blockade or embargo Of
American shipping, and that Germany
worst defiance Of international law and the
laws of humanity will be almost or quite
successful as the result Of our breaking of
relations but taking no further action.
- When all circumstances of the present
ard the security and prestige of this nation
in the future are intelligently considered, it
is absolutely clear that the United States
must and of right ought TO, declare war or
the German Empire, and lose the least pos
sible time in doing so.
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
New York, Feb. 9, 1917.