The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-04-03
URGES
RECOGNITION OF
STATUS OF WAR
Asks Congress to Use All Re-
sources to Defeat Germany
LIBERAL CREDIT TO THE ALLIES
Enter War to End Autocracy-Text
of Message TO Congress Sent to
Other Nations.


in his message delivered before the
joint assembly last evening made it
emphatic that Germany was at war
with the United States and that con-
gress recognize the fact. In this con-
nection he said:
with profound sense of the SOL
emn and even tragical character of
the step am taking and of the grave
responsibilities which it involves. but
in unhesitating obedience to what |
deem my constitutional duty, ad-
wise that the congress declare the re-
cent course of the imperial German
government be in fact nothing less
than war against the government and
people of the United States; that 1t
formally accept the status OF belliger-
eut which has thus been thrust upon
it; and that il take immediate steps
not only to put the country in a more
thorough state OF defense but also ex-
ert all it's power and employ all of its
resources to bring the government OF
Germany to terms and end the war.
"What this will involve is clear. II
will involve the utmost practicable CO.
operation in counsel and action with
the governments now at war with Ger
many. and, as incident to that, the ex-
tension TO those governments of the
most liberal financial credits, in order
that our resources may so far as pos
al - tn will in
volye the organization and mobiliza-
tion of all the material resources of
the country to supply the materials OF
war and serve the incidental needs OF
the nation in the most abundant and
vest the most economical and efficient
way possible. 1t will involve the i'm
mediate full equipment of the navy In
all respects but particularly in supply
ing it with the best means of dealing
with the enemy's submarines. IL will
involve the immediate addition to the
armed forces of the United States al
ready provided for by law in case of
war at least 100000 men, who should
in my opinion, be chosen upon the
principle of universal liability to SER
vice. and also the authorization OF
subsequent additional increments of
equal force so soon as they. may be
needed and can be handled in train
ing. 1t will involve also, of course,
the granting of adequate credits to the
sustained, | hope, so far
as they can equitably be sustained, by
the present generation, by we'll con-
ceived taxation"
In defining the purpose of the Uni
ted States the president said that the
object of the nation lis to vindicate
the principles of peace and justice in
the life Of the world as against the
selfish and autocratic powers and to
set up amongst the really free and
peoples of the world
such a concert of purpose and of ac-
ton as will henceforth ensure the OBJ
servance of those principles. Neutral
ity is no longer feasible or desirable
where the peace of the world is in
volved and the freedom of its peoples, |
freedom lies in the existence of auto |
cratic governments backed by orga-
nized force which is controlled wholly |
by their WILL not by the will OF their |
people. We have seen the last of neu
trality in such circumstances.
Speaking of the attitude of the Uni :
ted States toward the German people |
the president says:
1--WE have no quarrel with the Ger
man people. We have no feeling to-
wards them but one of sympathy and |
1t was not upon their i'm.
pulse that their government acted in
entering this war. 1t was not with |
heir previous knowledge or approval. |
It was war determined upon as wars |
used to be determined upon in the old, |
days when peoples were no.
where consulted by their rulers and |
wars were provoked and waged in the |
interest of dynasties or of groups of !
ambitious men who were accustomed |
TO use their fellow men as pawns and |
tools
In conclusion the president said:
ut is a distressing and oppressive |
duty, gentlemen of the Congress,
which | have performed i'm thus ad |
dressing you. There are. it may be, |
many months of fiery trial and sacri- |
fee ahead of us. 1t is fearful thing |