Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-04-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO SPECIAL SESSION Of
CONGRESS ADVISING RECOGNITION OF A STATE Of
Of WAR BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND GERMANY


in pursuits which have always, even
| in the darkest periods Of modern his.
tory, been deemed innocent and le.
gitimate. Property can be paid for;
the lives of peaceful and innocent
people cannot be.
U. s. Motive Not Revenge.
1.-THE present German submarine
warfare against commerce is a war
fare against mankind. It is war
against all nations. American ships
have been sunk, American lives TAX
en-, in ways which it has stirred US
very deeply to learn of, but the ships
and people of other neutrals and
friendly nations have been sunk and
overwhelmed in the waters in the
same way. There has been no dis
elimination. The challenge is to all
mankind. Each nation must decide
for itself how it will meet it.
THE choice we make for ourselves
must be made with a moderation Of
counsel and temperatures of judg-
ment BETTING our character and our
motives as nation. We must put
excited feeling away. Our motive
will not be revenge or the victorious
assertion Of our physical might of
the nation, but only the vindication
of right, of human right. of which we
are only single champion.
Armed Neutrality Impossible.
when addressed the congress
on the 26th of February last, I
thought that it would suffice to as
sert our neutral rights with arms,
our right to use the seas against un-
lawful interference, our right to
keep our people safe against unlaw-
full violence. But armed neutrality.
1t now appears, is impracticable.
Because submarines are, in effect,
outlaws when used as the German
submarines have been used against
merchant shipping, it is impossible
% defend ships against their attacks
Is the law Of nations has assumed
hat merchantmen would defend
themselves against privateers or
visible craft giving chase
lpon the open sea. 1t is common
prudence in such circumstances, grim
necessity, indeed. to endeavor to de-
troy them before they have shown
heir own intention. They must be
lealt with upon sight. If dealt with
It all.
"The German government denies
he right of neutrals to use arms at
III within the areas of the sea which
has prescribed. even in the de-
ense of rights which no modern
'ublicist has ever before questioned
heir right to defend. The intima-
ion is conveyed that the armed
yards which we have placed on our
merchant ships will be treated as be-
'ond the pale Of law and subject to
70 dealt with as pirates would be. /,
Armed neutrality is Intellectual
nough at best: in such circum-
tances and In the face Of such pre-
ensions It is worse than Intellectual; i
Is likely at once to produce what
was meant to prevent: 1t is prac-
ically certain to draw us into the
var without either the rights or the
Effectiveness of belligerents.
There is one choice we cannot
make, we are incapable Of making.
We will not choose the path of SUBJ
mission and suffer the most sacred
lights Of our nation and our people
o be ignored or violated. The
wrongs against which we now array
ourselves are not common wrongs;
hey cut to the very roots Of human
life.
Asks for State of War.
with q profound sense of the
Olemn and even tragical character
II the step I am taking and of the
.rave responsibilities which 1t in
'olves, but in unhesitating obedience
o what deem my constitutional
luty, / advise that the congress de-
lare the recent course Of the i'm
'erial German government to be in
act nothing less than war against
he government and people of the
United States; that 1t formally ac-
ept the status Of belligerency which
las thus been thrust upon it. and
hat 1t take immediate steps not only
o put the country in a more thor
ugh state of defense. but also to
xert all its power and employ all its
esources to bring the government Of
he German empire to terms and end
he war.
What this will involve is clear.
t will involve the utmost practicable
cooperation in counsel and action
With the governments now at war
With Germany, and. as incident to
hat. the extension to those govern
nents of the most liberal financial
redits. In order that our resources
o. ~ ,