New Britain herald., 1917-04-06
ASQUITH WELCOMES AMERICA INTO WAR Pictures Whole English Speaking
 Race As Comrades in Arms LAUDS PRESIDENTS ADDRESS Former British Premier Says Choice Lay Between Peace With Humilia- ton and Honor With War-There Was No Middle Course.
LAUDS PRESIDENTS ADDRESS

London, April 6.-Former Premier Asqutth made the following statement to the Associated Press today:
 There is not among us one who does not breathe more freely now that he knows that. through the action of the president and congress of the United States, the whole Eng lish-speaking race is to fight as com- rades side by side in the most mo- mentous struggle in history. The presidents speech will live in the an- nals of eloquence as a worthy and noble exposition of the grounds and the aims of great national resolve.
 ''The people of the United States has been forced. as the United King dom was forced. into struggle which, in neither case, was of our own seeking. They have realized, as we have realized, that the choice lay ,betweenspeace with humiliation and war with honor. There was no middle course, for armed neutrality, as the president points out, with irresistibly ccgency, affords no secure of power full foothold.
 "The provocation offered in the two cases was different, but in both the
 
 ton could refuse to take up without the sacrifice of its self-respect and without betrayal of the sacred trust, which is imposed upon all free peoples. to uphold the defense of liberty and humanity. Never had the fundamental issues which are at stake been stated with more precision or with a greater elevation of thought and language than in the presidents s !. address. The present German war fare, he points out, is a war against all nations. and the animating mo- tives of the Allies, by whose side he invites his fellow countrymen to range themselves, is not vfndicitive- ness but. vindication-the vindication of those human rights which are the common interest and the neutral bond { of the whole family of civilized so- ciety.
 "To this great purpose, the Ameri- ] can people now dedicate their lives and fortunes-as we have already l dedicated ours-conscious that they are listening to and obeying one ot 1 those supreme calls which come but {! rarely in history but which, when i they come, sound in the ears of a community of freemen with note o1 ] imperiOuS demand.
 '"The president urges upon his fel. low citizens the utmost practical CO l operation in counsel with the Allies and promises every form of effective help that America can provide. We on this side of the Atlantic, acknowl' l edge his appeal and his assurance with profound sympathy and grati' tude We have never presumed te l fo 1<i irS
 men in the United States what theil course should be- We have in ou1
 heart of hearts longed that the time
 might come when their strength
 would be joined with ours in a strug gle so consonant to all that is best il i our common instincts and traditions That day has now dawned and we be l lieye that it's sun shall not set unti two great English speaking democra cies can rejoice together, as fellov
 workers and fellow comhatants, owe the triumph of freedom and of right.
 Presidents Speech Strengthens Russia London, April GA group of Amer jeans having large interests in Russia
 has sent a report to London to thu
 effect that the situation is esta blishinf
 itself and that the provisional govern ment has been strengthened greatly a!
 a result of President Wilson's 'speecf l which made profound impression or the Russian people.
 Present indications point undoubt l edly to the establishment of a repub lie by constitutional assembly which is to be held. The whole sentiment ! of the Russian people is in favor of 6 
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