The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-03
GERMAN GOVT. NAT
URAL FOE TO LIBERTY
Presidents Message, Asking
Congress to Declare That
a State of War Exists, De-
clared That Neutrality
Was No Longer Feasible
or Desirable for United
States

Washington, D. c., April president
Wilson last night urged Congress, assem-
bled in joint session, to declare a state
of war existing between the United
States and Germany.
In a dispassionate, but unmeasured de-
nunciation of the course OF the imperial
German government, which he character
lied as a challenge to all mankind and
warfare against all nations, the presi-
dent declared that neutrality no longer
was feasible or desirable, where the peace
of the world was involved; that armed
neutrality had become intellectual enough
at best and was likely to produce what
it was meant to prevent and urged that
Congress accept the gauge Of battle with
all the resources of the nation.
81 advise that the Congress declare
the recent course of the imperial German
government to be in fact nothing less
than war against the government and
people of the United States" said the
president; chat it formally accept the
status of belligerent which has thus been
thrust upon it and that it take steps
not only to put the country in a more
thorough state of defense, but also exert
all its power and employ all its resources
to bring the government Of the German
empire to terms and end the war
When the president had finished speak
ing, resolutions to declare a state OF war
existing were introduced in both Houses
of Congress and referred TO appropriate
committees.
The objects OF the United States in en-
tering the war, the president said, were
to vindicate the principles OF peace and
Justice against selfish and autocratic
power" Without selfish ends, for con
quest or dominion. seeking no indemni-
ties or material compensations for the
sacrifices it shall make, the United States
must enter the war, the president said,
to make the world safe for democracy,
as only one of the champions OF the
rights OF mankind, and would be salts
fed when those rights were as secure as
the faith and freedom of nations could
make them.
The presidents address was sent in full
to Germany by a German official news
agency for publication in that country.
The text also went TO England and
summary OF its contents was sent around
the world TO other nations
To carry on an effective warfare
against the German government which
he characterized as "a natural foe 20 lib
erty," the president recommended: Ut
most practical cooperation in counsel
and action with the governments already
at war with Germany.
Extension of liberal financial credits
to those governments so that the re-
sources of America may be added so far
as possible TO theirs,
Organization and mobilization Of all
the material resources OF the country.
Full equipment Of navy, particularly
for means of dealing with submarine
warfare.
An army of at least 100000 men based
on the principle of universal liability to
service and the authorization OF addi-
tional increments of 100000 each as they
are needed or can be handled in training.
Raising necessary money for the Unit
ed States government, SO far as possible
without borrowing and on the basis OF
equitable taxation.
All preparations, the president urged,
should be made in such way as not to