El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-26
WILSON WANTS
To ARM SHIPS
Asks Congress for Authority
to Take Steps Necessary
in Present Crisis.
CONTINUED From Page l.

Continued From Page l.
and not mistrust US. hope that need
give no further proofs and assurances
than / have already given throughout
nearly three years of anxious patience
that 1 am the friend OF peace and mean
TO preserve il for America so long as
am able am not now proposing or
contemplating war or any steps that
need lead 20 it 1 merely request that
you will accord me by your own vote
and definite bestowal the means and
the authority to safeguard in practice
the right OF 4 great people who are at
peace and who are DESTROYS OF eNer-
cising none hut the rights OF peace to
follow the pursuit of peace in quiet
ness and good viii.
Others Must Make War.
mo course OF my choosing or Of
theirs will lead to war. War can come
only by the wilful acts and aggressions
Of others.
Asks Authority To Arm Ships.
You viii understand why / can mako
no definite proposals or forecasts Of
action now and must ask for your sup
porting authority in the most general
terms The form in which action may
seen. I believe that the people will
be willing to trust me 10 act with
restraint, with prudence and in the true
spirit of amity and good faith that
they have themselves displayed
throughout these trying months and it
IS in that belief that l request that you
viii authorize me to supply our mer-
chant ships with defensive arms, should
that become necessary. and with the
means of using them and TO employ any
other instrumentalities or methods that
may be necessary and adequate to pro-
tect our ships and our people in their
legitimate and peaceful pursuits on the
seas
Asks Vote OF Credit Also.
q request also that you viii grant
me at the same time, along with the
powers ask. a sufficient credit 20 en-
able me to provide adequate means Of
protection where they are lacking, in
Guiding adequate insurance against the
present war risks
Thinks Chiefly of Life.
I have spoken Of our commerce and
Of the legitimate errands of our peo-
pie on the seas but you VIII not be
Inislec as 10 my main thought, the
thought that lies beneath these phrases
and gives them dignity and weight.
II is not OF material interest merely
that we are thinking. II IS. rather.
Of fundamental human rights, chief
OF all the right Of life itself I am
thinking not only Of the rights OF
Americans TO 90 and come about their
proper business by way Of the sea but
also OF something much deeper, much
more fundamental than that am
thinking of those rights OF umanity
without which there is no civilization.
Ny theme is Of those great princi pies
Of compassion and Of protection which
mankind has sought to throw about
ants. the lives Of men who are peace
fully at work keeping the Industrial
processes OF the world quick and vital.
the lives Of women and children and
of those who supply the labor which
ministers 10 their sustenance.
Americans Must Defend Justice.
We are speaking of no selfish
teTial rights but of rights which
hearts support and whose foundat-
is that righteous passion FOR 5usti--i
upon which all law. all structures alika
Of finally, OF state and or mInkinc.
must rest. as upon the ultimate base
of our existence and our liberty.
cannot imagine any man with Ameri-
can principles in his heart hesitating
10 defend these things"
1t Il n Defensive Measure.
Armed neutrality is desert bed by au-
thOrities on international law as a mill
tary measure for the purpose Of de-
Tending rights of neutrals against
threatened heterogeneous on the part
Of = belliSerent- It has generally con-
csrned more than one power and the
most striking historical instances OF
armed Eertralitles were those OF the
northern European powers in 1880 and
1900 made TO defend the principle OF
free ships and free goods. adopted by
treaty between the Baltic powers and I
opposed by England.
IF the commercial interests Of sew
eral nations" says one authority, are
threatened by unjust or unlawful meas
ures on the part OF belligerent, which 1
they deem unjust or dangerous, there !
can be no question of their right to !
secure their menaced interests by such |
as seem best calculated 10 I
accomplish that purpose.
An armed neutrality is. II fact an
alliance Of several powers, usually OF .
4 defensive character. though this IS I
by no means essential"
Holland and Switzerland Armed.
During the present war. Holland and !
switzerland have maintained what |
amounts 10 an armed neutrality, al
though l. mas been confined TO land
When war broke out between France
and Spain and France and Great Bril-
tain. neutrals became alarmed at the /
dangers with which the maritime
lights were threatened and the empress |
Of Russia undertook to unite them in l
defence OF their neutral rights. This |
formed the basis of treaties between |
Russia, Denmark. Sweden, Holland, |
Austria and Portugal They formed a !
eague which. under the name Of armed |
neutrality. undertook to preserve in |
violate the maritime rights of neutrals. |
These declarations were recognized by =
the treaty of peace between Great |
Britain and France and were the es- 1
rablished law of nations when the |
United States in 1888 was recognized as !
BY the powers Of the !
world.
VIII Wilson Invite NeutraIs: