The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-27
Wilson Asks for Right to
Use Forces Of Nation to
Protect Citizens.
OF KAISER
That Lives Have Not Been
Lost Is Chance, Not
Purpose, He Says.
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is substantially the same as 1t was
when I addressed you on the third of
February. except for the tieing up of
our shipping in our own ports because
of the unwillingness of our shipowners
to risk their vessels at sea without in
surance of adequate protection and the
very serious congestion of our COM
mcrce which has resulted, a conges-
ton which is growing rapidly more
and more serious every day.
Effect Is Disastrous.
This in itself might presently ac-
complish. in effect. what the new Ger
man submarine orders were meant to
We can only say therefore, that the
overt act which l have ventured to
hope the German commanders would in
fact avoid has not occurred.
But while this is happily true it
must be admitted that there have been
certain additional indications and eN-
pressions of purpose on the part of the
! German press and the German authori-
| ties which have increased rather than
| lessened the impression that, if our
ships and our people are spared it
will be because the commanders OF the
| German submarines. which they may
happen to encounter exercise an I'M
expected discretion and restraint rather
than because of the instructions under
which those commanders are acting.
Danger in Situation.
| 1T would be foolish to deny that
the situation is fraught with the grav-
est possibilities and dangers. No
necessity for definite action may come
at any time, if we are in fact, and not
in word merely, to defend our felemen-
tary rights as a neutral nation. II
would be more imprudent to be unpre-
pared. -
Il can not. in such circumstances. be
unmindful of the fact that the eXpira-
ton of the term of the present congress
is Immediately at hand, by constitu.
tional limitations ana that it would
in all likelihood icduirc IN unusua
length of time TO assemble and organ.
izc the congress which is to succeed it
Wants Specific Power.
Il feel that ought, in view of tina
fact, to obtain from YOU full and i'm
mediate assurance of the authorit,
which | may need at any moment t
exercise. No doubt / already possess
that power without, special warrant o
war, by the plain implication if m,
constitutional duties and powers, bu
| prefer, in the present circumstances
not to act upon general implications
| wish to feel that the authority an,
power Of the congress are behind IN
in whatever it may become necessar
for me to do. We are jointly tn
servants Of the people and must ac
together and in their spirit. so far a
we can divide and interpret it.
! Must Defend Commerce.
mo one doubts what it is our duty (
do. We must defend our commerce
, and the lives of our people in the mids
Of the present trying circumstances
with discretion. but with clear an
steadfast purpose. Only the metho
and the extent remain to be chosen
upon the occasion. if occasion shout
| indeed arise.
Since it was unhappily proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutra
rights by diplomatic means against tn
unWarranted infringements they ar
suffering at the hands of German.
there may be no recourse but to arme
neutrality which we shall know hoy
to maintain and for which there
abundant American precedent.
Wants Peace for America.
1T is devoutly to be hoped that
will not be necessary to put arme
1 forces anywhere into action. TIL
! American people do not desire 1t an
! our desire is not different from theirs
] am sure that they will take the spir
in which / am now acting, the purpos
, hold nearest my heart and woul
: wish to exhibit in everything | do.
am anxious that the people of the ma
tons at war also should unfrstan
z and not mistrust us.
Z Il hope that ! need give no furthe
proofs and assurances than l have al
Z ready given throughout nearly thre
z years of anxious patience that am tn
friend of peace and. mean to preserH