Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04
The Presidents Address.

1UG 1IeSlUcuI 1QOl coo.
President Wilson's announcement TO
Congress in joint session yesterday
afternoon consisted of the statement
that in execution of the policy laid
down in n prior note to Germany IN
the Sussex case this government has
severed relations with Germany on the
score of its cancellation of the pledge
given in the note of last May to abstain
from the sinking of neutral ships with
out warning. He further said that he
persisted in the belief that Germany
will not proceed 70 the execution of its
newly announced policy Involving the
withdrawal from that pledge.
The effect OF the Presidents state
Msnt is 10 put upon Germany the onus
or war making. While he has, in ac-
eorianee with previous declarations,
severed diplomatic intercourse, he does
act lock for an actual act OF war be-
cause he ssnnos bring himself to be-
heve tbs, Germany will carry its pro-
Rrzn OF ruthless destruction ST sea TO
the point OF violating its solemn obliga-
tons.
II. however. Germany should, in pur-
suance of its new policy. sacrifice Amer
lean ships and lives the President will
again address Congress to ask for au-
thority to use all means in his power to
protect American seamen and people in
the prosecution of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas. In
short, if Germany gives cause by COM
hitting an act in breach of the peace
between the nations the President will
ask Congress to declare war;
The particular significance of this
statement by the President is that he
will wait for Germany to break the
peace. He puts the case squarely on
the basis of the pledge given in the
Sussex case and the present withdrawal
of that pledge, excused by Germany on
the ground Of justifying change in
the situation as between the central
powers and the entente allies, change
that the United States cannot recognize
as a warrant for any withdrawal from
m obligation formally acknowledged
and relied upon by this government as
binding.
The complaint against Germany is in
fact, however, stronger than has been
stated by the President in his address
to Congress. For Germany has not only
Withdrawn its pledge of last May to
abstain from the destruction of neutral
vessels without warning, but it has
greatly extended the zone of prohibit
tion on the high seas, to an extent
which this government cannot recognize
as justified in international law. And
It has furthermore explicitly declared
its intention to sink on sight, presum-
ably without any warning, all neutral
ships entering this greatly extended
zone with the solitary exception of
weekly vessel each way between an
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through designated lane, provided she
carries no contraband of war.
Germany's offense against the United
States is greater and graver than the
mere withdrawal of the pledge given in
the Sussex case Such withdrawal
would only put her in position to renew
her original plan of warfare, which was
solely against enemy ships, with the
warning suggestion that neutral vessels
plying certain prescribed waters might
risk injury or destruction through being
mistaken for belligerents Germany's new
ohense consists in an unheard of widen
ing OF the blockade and threat against
neutral shipping of intentional destruc-
tion which has no possible warrant in
international law and which is a mon.
htrous violation Of the principles of hui
manity.