New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-04-07

Washington, April 2.-Presl
dent Wilson tonight asked Con
gress to declare a state of wa
existing between the United
States and Germany.
The President said the war will
Germany would involve practica
cooperation with the government
now at war with Germany, issu
ing liberal financial credits. II,
urged the raising of 100000 mel
by universal military service.
The President made it clear
that no action was being taken
against the Austrian government
and the other nations allied with
Germany.
President Wilson spoke as fol,
lows:
II have called the Congress
into extraordinary session be-
cause there are serious, very SER
ious choices of policy to be made,
and made Immediately which it
was neither right nor constitu-
tionally permissible that | should
assume the responsibility of ma
king.
"On the third Of February last
| officially laid before you the ex-
traOrdinary announcement of the
imperial German government that
on and after the first day Of
February it was its purpose to
put aside all restraint, of law or
of humanity and use it ssubma-
rines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the
ports of Great Britain and Ire
land or the western coasts of
Europe or any of the ports con-
trolled by the enemies of Germany
within the Mediterranean. That
had seemed to be the object Of
the German submarine warfare
earlier in the war but since April
of last year the imperial govern
ment had somewhat restrained the
commanders of its undersea craft
in conformity with its promise
then given to us that passenger
boats should not be sunk and that
due warning would be given to all
other vessels which it's subma-
rines might see to destroy, when
no resistance was offered or es-
cape attempted and care taken
that their crews were given at
least a fair chance to save their
lives in their open boats.
The precautions taken were
meagre and haphazard enough as
was provided in distressing in
stance after instance in the prog
ress of the cruel and unmanly bus
mess. but certain degree of re-
strain was observed. The new
policy has swept every restric-
ton aside. Vessels Of every kind, !
whatever their flag, their charac-
ter, their cargo, their destina-
ton, their errand, have been ruth
lessly sent to the bottom without
warning and without thought of
help or mercy for those on board,
the vessels Of friendly neutrals
along with those Of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships car
rying relief to the sorely be-
reaved and stricken people of Bel
GUM. though the latter were pro-
vided with safe conduct through
the prescribed areas by the Ger
man government itself and were
distinguished by unmistakable
marks Of identity, have been
sunk with the same reckless lack
of compassion or of principle.
81 was for little while unable i
to believe that such things would
in fact be done by any govern I
ment that had hitherto subscribed
to the humane practices Of civ
ilized nations. International law
had its origin in the attempt to
set up some law which would he !
and observed upon the {
seas, where no nation had right I
IF dominion and where lay tie |
free highways Of the word. BY i
painful labor, stage after stage, i
has that law been built up with |
neagre neough results. indeed, I
after all was ACCOMPLISHED. hut c