An appeal by the President of the United States to the citizens of the Republic, requesting their assistance in maintaining a state of neutrality during the present European war. [Presented in the Senate by Mr. Chilton, Aug. 19, 1914, and ordered to be printed.] MY FELLOW COUNTRY MEN: I suppose that every thoughtful man in America has asked himself, during these last troubled weeks, what influence the European war may exert upon the United States, and I take the liberty of addressing a few words to you in order to point out that it is entirely within our own choice what its effects upon us will be and to urge very earnestly upon you the sort of speech and conduct which will best safeguard the Nation against distress and disaster. The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned. The spirit of the Nation in this critical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and society and those gathered in public meetings do and say, upon what newspapers and magazines contain, upon what ministers utter in their pulpits, and men proclaim as their opinions on the street. The people of the United States are drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war. It is natural and inevitable-that there should be the utmost variety of sympathy and desire among them with regard to the issues and circumstances of the conflict. Some will wish one nation, others another, to succeed in the momentous struggle. It will be easy to excite passion and difficult to allay it. Those responsible for exciting it will assume a heavy responsibility, responsibility for no less a thing than that the people of the United States, whose love of their country and whose loyalty to its Government should unite them as Americans all, bound in honor and affection to think first of her and her interests, may be divided in camps of hostile opinion, hot against each other, involved in the war itself in impulse and opinion if not in action. Such divisions among us would be fatal to our peace of mind and might seri-ously stand in the way of the proper performance of our duty as the one great nation at peace, the one people holding itself ready to play a part of impartial mediation and speak the counsels of peace and accommodation, not as a partisan, but as a friend. I venture, therefore, my fellow countrymen, to speak a solemn word of warning to you against that deepest, most subtle, most essential breach of neutrality which may spring out of partisanship, out of passionately taking sides. The United States must be neutral in fact as well as in name during these days that are to try men's souls. We must be impartial in thought as well as in action, must put a curb upon our sentiments as well as upon every transaction that might be construed as a preference of one party to the struggle before another. My thought is of America. I am speaking, I feel sure, the earnest wish and purpose of every thoughtful American that this great country of ours, which is, of course, the first in our thoughts and in our hearts, should show herself in this time of peculiar trial a Nation fit beyond others to exhibit the fine poise of undisturbed judgment, the dignity of self-control, the efficiency of dispassionate action; a Nation that neither sits in judgment upon others nor is disturbed in her own counsels and which keeps herself fit and free to do what is honest and disinterested and truly serviceable for the peace of the world. Shall we not resolve to put upon ourselves the restraints which will bring to our people the happiness and the great and lasting influence for peace we covet for them? 2 Abolition of distinction between al solute and conditional.. 215-228, 229 Germany, decree on foodstuffs ordinance on declaration of London war zone 203, 205-209 203 203 204 (footnote) 204 204 209-211, 211-214 340 372 372 205-211 89, 90 181 164 65 166 37 280-282 280 3 N- Fesp 8-14-179 Sime on Page. Germany-Great Britain, modus vivendi between, proposed by United States. 18, 22, 27 Declaration of London.. - Flag, neutral.. Frye, William P., steamship. Senate action 203 32 170-176 169 164 37, 38-39, 52, 55, 65, 114, 155, 157, 169 8, 10, 13, 38-52, 114-132, 155-157 287 319 204 209-214 340-343 372 372 30, 293, 342 340-343, 345-372 75-88 327-339 327-338 401 182, 205, 229-234 203 225-228 346-350 280-282 95, 157, 274-280 37 182-183, 385-401 314, 319 274-280 Hague Conference, its findings. Legislation to protect neutral rights. Notes-correspondence First note to Germany on... First reply from Germany. Second reply. Third note. Mails, interference with. Maritime rights, order in council. Matamoras cases, cited.... Mediterranean Sea, submarine activity in. Merchant vessels: See Armed merchant vessels. Detention in British ports.. Mines, submarine.... Modus vivendi proposed by the United States. 377 38 38 39 38-52 40 43 45 48 52 182-183, 385-401 372 318 61-73 346-350 7, 8, 10 Munitions of war, exportation of: Mutual concessions proposed by United States. Answer by Great Britain Nationality of vessel, how determined. British order in council, October, 1915 Nebraskan, steamship, attack on. Neches, detention of cargo. Joint resolution of Congress. Neutral vessels in war zone. Page. 55-59 15, 33 22, 48, 282 19 340-343 314, 319 234-256, 296-307, 308-313, 327-338, 345-348, 349–372 22, 181, 315, 319, 339 288 39 92 414 204 Armed neutrality note of January 18, 1916.. February 22, 1917. Examination of neutral vessels. Orders in council, texts of- August 20, 1914 (declaration of London) Germany. Wilson, President Reply of entente. Petrolite, steamship, attack on.. American cases. Removal of belligerent citizens from an American vessel (China) Requisition of ships: Orders in council, March 23, 1915.. Orders in council, November 10, 1915. Resolution declaring that a state of war exists. Restraint of sea-borne commerce, American inquiry of England British reply.. German memorandum Restraints of commerce. Search, right of (Dec. 26 note). United States Navy order, August 18, 1862.. Ships, requisition of: March 11, 1915.. 38-52, 61-65, 114-132 128 155, 157 137-138 -Attitude toward Germany and Austria. Navy order on neutrality. Vessels detained by British (Sept. 10). See Detention of American ships. Visit and search. See Search. von Holweg on German relations with the United States. -War, state of, declared.. War material, exportation of: Correspondence with Austria. War Zone. England, November 2, 1914. See Submarine warfare. The Hague.. Wilhelmina, steamship. Wilson, President: Letter to Stone on warning.. Letter to Pou on McLemore resolution. Page. 401 -343, 345--374 121 124, 147, 161 339 269-274 256-269 132 422 55-59 33 7, 283, 413 155, 157, 160 124, 161 110 112 Address on severing diplomatic relations with Germany (Feb. 3). |