“On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted.  In spite of this it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.  If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico:  That we shall make war together and together make peace.  We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.  The details are left to you for settlement.  You are instructed to inform the president of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and suggest that the president of Mexico on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.  Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.”

The American steamers City of Memphis, Vigilancia and Illinois had been sunk and fifteen lives lost in pursuance of the German submarine policy to torpedo without warning and without any regard to the safety of crews or passengers, all ships found within the barred zones.  The President could no longer postpone drawing the sword.  Being convinced that the inevitable hour had struck, he proved himself the man of the hour and acted with energy.  A special session of congress was called for April 2.  The day is bound to stand out in history for in the afternoon the President delivered his famous message asking that war be declared against Germany.  He said that armed neutrality had been found wanting and in the end would only draw the country into war without its having the status of a belligerent.  One of the striking paragraphs of the message follows: 

“With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking, and of the grave responsibility which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that the congress declare the recent course of the imperial German government to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States; that it formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country in a more thorough state of defence, but also to exert all its power and employ all its resources to bring the government of the German empire to terms and end the war.”

Congress voted a declaration of war April 6.  Only six senators out of a total of 96, and fifty representatives out of a total of 435, voted against it.  Congress also, at the request of the President, voted for the creation of a national army and the raising to war strength of the National Guard, the Marine corps and the Navy.  Laws were passed dealing