The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-03-01
PRESIDENT ASKS AUTHORI-
ITY TO PUT COUNTRY IN
STATE OF ARMED NEUTRALITY
THE INEVITABLE STEPS TAKEN

THE INEVITABLE STEPS TAKEN
Address Before Congress Asking fer
Authority to Declare Country in
State of Armed Neutrality and
Employ Whatever Means Become
Necessary to Protect American
Lives and Maintain American Rights
on the Seas
President Wilson Monday address,
ed joint session of the Congress
and asked for authority to use the
forces of the United States to protect
American ships and lives against the
German submarine menace, to put
| the nation in state of armed neu-
trality. His address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
II have again asked the privilege
Of addressing you because we are
moving 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 counsel
nor action shall run at cross purpos-
es between US.
"On the third of February I Of
ficially informed you of the sudden
and unexpected action of the Imper-
1al German government in declaring
its intention to disregard the prom
lses it had made to this government
in April last and undertake immedi-
ate submarine operations against all
commerce, whether of belligerents or
of neutrals, that should seek to APP
proach Great Britain and Ireland, the
Atlantic coasts Of Europe or the har-
bors of the eastern Mediterranean,
! and 0nnI11of &hoo1
regard to the established restrictions
of international practice, without re-
gard to any consideration of human
ity even which might interfere with
their object. That policy was forth
with put into practice. It has now
been in active execution for nearly
four weeks.
"Its practical results are not full
ly disclosed.
1.-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 government
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 te
their home ports than because Amer.
lean ships have been sunk.
| 1.-TWO American vessels have beer
sunk, the Housatonic and the Lyman
M. Law. The case of the Housaton
lie, which was carrying foodstuffs
consigned to London firm, was es
sentlally like the case of the Frye il
which, it will be recalled, the Ger
man government admitted it's lila
bility for damages, and the lives O.
the crew, az in the case of the Frye
were safeguarded with REASONABLE
care.
. "The case of the Law, which wa
carrying lemon box slaves to Paler
mo, disclosed ruthlessness Of meth
; cd which deserves grave considera
ton, but was accompanied by NJ
circumstances which might not hav'
been expected at any time in connec
ton with the use Of the submarine
against merchantmen as the German
government has used it
| "1n sum therefore, the situation W,
find ourselves with regard to the &C
tual conduct Of the German subma
rine warfare against commerce AM
it's effects upon our own ships an
people is substantially the same tina
it was when l addressed you on tn
third Of February, except for the ty
ing up of our shipping in our owl
| ports because Of the unwillingness 0
Oh ~ so1- I.4s II
at sea without insurance or adequat
. protection and the very serious con
ri gestion Of our commerce which ha
resulted, congestion which is grow
ing rapidly more and more seriou
emily accomplish, in effect, what tn
new German submarine orders wer
meant to accomplish, so far as W
are concerned. We can only sa,
therefore, that the overt act whic
have ventured to hope the Germa
commanders would in fact avoid ha
not occurred.
"But while this is happily true,
must be admitted that there hav
been certain additional indication
and expressions Of purpose on tn
part of the German press and tn
German authorities which have il
creased rather than lessened the in
preston that, if our ships and OF
] people are spared, it will be becaus
- of fortunate circumstances Tor bt
- cause the commanders of the Gel
man submarines which they may hal
Il pen to encounter exercise an une7
pected discretion and restraint ratl
er than because Of the instruction
under which those commanders a.
acting.
ct would be foolish to deny tn
the situation is fraught with ii
gravest possibilities and danger
No thoughtful man can fail to $
that the necessity for definite acti'
may come at any time, if we are
fact and not in Wond merely to d