South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-30
Outline of Address to Joint
Session is Complete.
Middle Course Likely
to be Pursued.
VIEW is THAT STATE
OF WAR NOW EXISTS
Probable That Resolution Will
be Framed Along Lines of
One Passed Befort
Mexican War.
International News Service
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International News Service:
WASHINGTON, March 30.-The
outline of Pres't Wilson's address
TO the extraordinary session OF con-
gress is complete only new and
startling developments will change
it. 1t Will not be written out by
him, however. If present plans are
adhered TO, until next Monday night.
a few hours before it viii be deliv-
cred to the joint session.
No official statement as to its con-
tents viii be forthcoming in ad-
vance. The men with whom the
president has discussed il have a
general idea OF its scope. They say
that it will meet the wishes Of the
country at large although il will not
suit either the ultra-war advocates
who want the United States 10 fling
its millions into Europe and send
the army and navy to cooperate
with the entente. Neither will it
give any comfort to the pacifists
who still are demanding that this
country shall turn the other cheek"
and accept Germany's attitude as
the fortunes of war"
Can't speak for President
While no one has the authority or
right 20 speak for the president and
il is freely recognized that changes
IN the general situation would force
"a corresponding change in his at
titude. talks With cabinet members
and administration leaders in de-
pa~tments and i'm congress indicate
that the groundwork OF the pres
idents message will he about as fol-
lows.
"It will recite the efforts made
through diplomacy TO prevent any
thing more serious than diplomatic
break with Germany.
1T will frankly admit that diplo-
macy has utterly failed and armed
neutrality has not yet demonstrated
that il is sufficient 10 meet with
the situation.
1T will refer directly TO the fact
that American merchantmen have
been sunk without warning and with
"a heartless disregard 10 the fate Of
their passengers and crews and to
lives have been lost and others en-
dangered through the ruthless Ger
man warfare which has sent neu-
trail and entente craft TO the bot
tom regardless OF consequences.
Created State Of War.
EFT will recite the fact that 10 all
intents and purposes Germany has
created a state OF war and will de
clare that everything possible has
been done by the executive branch
for the government 20 cope with
this situation
THE message then will refer TO
the fact that congress is the body
constitutionally authorized 10 meet
such situation and viii place re-
spousibility for the next step square
Is al the door Of the law-making
branch"
II this policy is strictly adhered
10. the president viii not specifically
ask congress To declare war. His
address will make il plain that the
next step for congress is TO recoE-
lize that a state OF war exists and
10 take steps To meet that condi-
tion. IL is entirely possible that ne
will not even ask that such recogni-
ton shall be made. but will declare
that the situation demands that
congress act
The house foreign affairs commit
tee. which viii report the resolu-
ton designed 10 meet the situation
recited by Pres't Wilson has held a
number OF informal conferences on
the subject. Chairman Flood today
said that no definite action had
been taken There is feeling
amc2g the democratic members that
the resolution should be framed
along the lines OF the act OF 1886
which launched the Mexican war
This resolution, after recognizing
that a state Of war existed as the
result of hostile acts" against the
United States. specifically authoriz-
ing the president Ito employ the
militia. naval and military forces OF
the United states" 90 prosecute said
war 20 a speedy AID successful
termination"