The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-02-26
T|MIDITY OF AMERICAN SHIPPERS ENABLES
GERMANY TO ACCOMPLISH TRADE BLOCKADE;
EXECUTIVE INSISTS ON HUMANITY'S RIGHTS

armed forces of the country
but also to provide money.
News of the sinking of the
Cunard liner Laconia with
Americans aboard was re-
ceived here as the president
was on his way to address
Congress. Although without
details, its grave possibilities
added emphasis to the presi-
dents words.
Armed Neutrality Once Before.
Only once in the infancy of the re-
public, state of armed neutrality was
proclaimed to check predatory vio-
lence" upon American rights in the
war between France and England but
it did not result actually in war for the
United States.
Whether another armed neutrality
will mean war depends on whether
Germany realizes that the United
States is ready to protect its neutral
rights by whatever means are neces-
sary.
With a full realization of the solem-
ity of the occasion the president took
his action today with the calm conf
dence that Congress and the country
will stand behind him.
Hear President in Silence
The grim-faced body of senators
and representatives who less than a
month ago beard the president pro-
nounce the words which announced a
severance of diplomatic relations with
Germany-aE act which in all the his
tory of frst-class nations always has
led to war-heard today in tense ST.
lence and close attention the words
which carry the American Republic a
step further in its stand against ruth
less sacrifice of neutral rights and
step nearer war, if it must be.
President Wilson arrived at the cap
itol just before l o'clock and promptly
at that hour stepped to the clerks
desk in the hall of the House where
both branches of Congress meeting ir
special joint session were assembled
before him.
Explains t1tS appearance
The president said in opening:
81 have again asked the privilege of
addressing you because we are NOV
ing through critical times during
which it seems to me to be my duty
to keep in close touch with the
Houses of Congress so that neither
council nor action shall run at cross
purposes between u.s.
He then reviewed his appearance
before Congress on Feb. 3. when he
informed the members of the Senate
and House officially of Germany's re-
sumption of ruthless submarine war
Referring to the German policy, he
continued:
THAT policy was forthwith put into
practice. It has now been in active
execution for near four weeks
Results Not Disclosed.
Its practical results are not fully
disclosed. The commerce of other
neutral nations is suffering severely
but not. perhaps. very much more
severely than it was already suffering
before the first of February, when
the new policy of the Imperial govern
ment was put into operation. We have
asked the cooperation of the other
neutral governments to prevent these
depredations, but fear none of them
has thought it wise to join us in any
common course of action. Our own
commerce has suffered, is suffering.
rather in apprehension than in fact,
rather because so many of our ships
are timidly keeping to their home
ports than because American ships
have been sunk"
The president then spoke Of the
American vessels Housatonic and Ly-
man N. Law. He reviewed the cir
cumstances surrounding those acts.
Continuing he said:
U. S. Shipping Tied Up.
TN sum, therefore, the situation We
find ourselves in with regard to the
| actual conduct of the German sub
marine warfare against commerce and
its effects upon our own ships and
people is substantially the same as it
was when l addressed you on Feb. 3.
except for the tying up of our shipping
in our own ports because of the un-
willingness of our ship owners to risk
their vessels at sea without insurance
or adequate protection and the various
very serious CONNECTION of our COM
merce which has resulted. conject-
ion which is drawing more and more
serious every day.
This in itself might presently ac-
complish in effect what the new Ger
man submarine orders were meant to
accomplish so far as we are concerned.
We can only say thefore that the
overt act which / have ventured to
hope the German commanders would
avoid, has not occurred.
Statements Show Sinister Motive
Put while this is happily true it
must be admitted that there have
been certain additional indications
and expressions of purpose on the
part of the German press and the Ger
man authorities which have increased
rather than lessened the impression.
that, if our ships and people are spar
ed, it will be because Of fortunate cir.
cumstances or because the command
[continaed On Paoe Tenl