File No. 763.72/3637a
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives in all Countries
The President addressed the special session of Congress this evening in regard to the international situation. After briefly reviewing the submarine controversy with Germany, he pointed out that the present submarine warfare is a warfare against mankind; that in view of developments, armed neutrality is worse than ineffectual and is only likely to produce what it was meant to prevent; that we can not choose the path of submission and are arraying ourselves against wrongs which cut to the very roots of human life. With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step, he advised the Congress to declare the recent course of the German Government to be in effect nothing less than war against the Government and people of the United States and proposed that it take immediate steps to put the country in a thorough state of defense and employ all its power and resources to bring the German Empire to terms and end the war. This will involve utmost practicable cooperation in counsel and action with the governments now at war with Germany; the extension of financial credits, material aid, and addition to armed forces of at least 500,000 men upon principle of universal military service. Legislative proposals along these lines will be promptly introduced. We have no quarrel with the German people, but only with the autocratic [Page 195] government which has brought on the present situation. The world must be made safe for democracy which seems to be in the balance. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion; we seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind.
The following Joint Resolution was immediately introduced and referred to the Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs Committees which meet to-morrow morning for its consideration:
Joint Resolution declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial German Government and the Government and people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same:
Whereas, the recent acts of the Imperial Government are acts of war against the Government and people of the United States;
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled that the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and,
That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to take Immediate steps not only to put the country in a thorough state of defense but also to exert all of its power and employ all of its resources to carry on war against the Imperial German Government and to bring the conflict to a successful termination.