Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-02
Gentlemen of the congress:

ing through critical tlmeS, during
which it seems to me to be my duty
to keep in close touch with the
houses of congress, so that neither
counsel nor action shall run at cross
purposes between us.
On the Sd of February l officially
informed you of the sudden and un-
expected action of the imperial Ger
man government in declaring it's in
tention to disregard the promises 1t
had made to this government in
April last, and undertake immediate
submarine operations against all
commerce, whether of belligerents or
of neutrals, that should seek to APP
proaon Great Britain and Ireland
the Atlantic coasts of Europe or the
harbors of the Eastern Mediterran-
can and to conduct those operations
without regard to the established re-
strictions of usual practice, without
regard to any consideration of hui
mainly which might interfere with
their object. That policy was forth
with put into practice. 1t has now
been in active execution for nearly
four weeks.
American Commerce suffers.
Its practical results are not fully
disclosed. The commerce of other
neutral nations is suffering severely
but not, perhaps. very much more
severely than it was already suffer-
ing before the first of February when
the new policy of the imperial gov
eminent was put into operation. We
have asked the cooperation of the
other neutral governments to pre-
vent these depredations, but I fear
none of them thought it wise to join
us in any common course of action.
Our own commerce has suffered, is
suffering. rather in apprehension
than in fact, rather because so many
of our ships are timidly keeping to
their home ports than because Amer
lean ships have been sunk.
Two American vessels have been
sunk, the Housatonic and the Lyman
NJ. Law. The case of the Housa-
tonic, which was carrying foodstuffs
consigned to London, was essentially
like the case of the Frye in which, 1t
will be recalled, the German govern
ment admitted its liability for dam
ages and the lives of the crew, as in
the case Of the Frye, were safeguard
ed with reasonable care.
Ruthlessness in Law Case.
The case of the Law, which was
carrying lemon box slaves to Paler-
mo, disclosed a ruthlessness of meth
cd which deserves grave condemna-
ton, but was accompanied by no cir
cumstances which might not have
been expected at any time in connec-
ton with the use of the submarine
against merchantmen as the German
government has used 1t.
In sum, therefore, the situation we
find ourselves in with regard to the
actual conduct of the German sub
marine warfare against commerce
and it's effects upon our own ships
and people is substantially the same
as it was when I addressed you on
the Sd of February. except for the
tying up of our shipping in our own
ports because of the unwillingness Of
our ship owners to risk their vessels
at sea without insurance or adequate
protection, and the very serious con-
gestion of our commerce which has
resulted, a congestion which is grow
ing rapidly more and more serious
every day.
No Overt Act So Far.
This in itself might presently &C
complish. in effect. what the new
German submarine orders were
meant to accomplish, so far as we are
concerned. We can only say, there
fore, that the overt act which I have
ventured to hope the Germans would
in fact avoid has not occurred.
Editors Note: The sinking of
the Laconia, as the result of which
two American women died, was re-
ported while the president was
speaking.)
But while this is happily true, it
must be admitted that there have
been certain additional indications
and expressions of purpose on the
part Of the German press and the
German authorities which have in
creased rather than lessened the i'm
preston that il our ships and our
people are spared it will be because
of fortunate circumstances or because
the commanders of the German sub
marines which they may happen to
encounter exercise an unexpected
discretion and restraint, rather than
because of the instructions under
which those commanders are acting.
America Must BE Prepared.
1t would be foolish to deny
that the situation is fraught