Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — SPURNS EUROPEAN MEDIATION PLANS [ARTICLE]

SPURNS EUROPEAN MEDIATION PLANS

United States Peace Plot; Teuton Scheme Seen Back of Move. ARMY AND NAVY RUSH WORK Every Preparation for an Eventuality Is Being Carried Forward fay Every Branch of the Government — President Drafts Address. El Paso, Tex., March 23.—PresidentElect Carranza has called an extraordinary session of, the Mexican house of deputies to meet April 2, the same date on which the United States congress will convene. Washington, March 23. —Offers of mediation, to prevent actual war between the United States and Germany, are expected among the next developments. ... Administration officials heard that a European neutral was contemplating such a plan, and they frankly regarded it as . another effort. > backed by ■ Germany, to divide sentiment in congress and embarrass the presidenL •It was declared authoritatively that no proposals of mediation or for discussion will be considered unless Germany first abandons the campaign of ruthlessness. All administration officials from the president down take the position that the United States never has, and does not now, desire war with Germany, but is being forced into if to protect lives and rights of “its, citizens against unlawful aggression. , Kaiser Must Yield. Unless Germany is prepared completely to change her position, it was declared, offers of mediation and discussion are useless. Germany, it was recalled, never accepted former Secretary Bryan’s proposal to sign one of his “peace investigation" treaties, which would have bound the United States to inaction for a year, while a commission investigated the situation. Meanwhile, every preparation for any eventually is being carried forward by the army and navy, and the president is awaiting the assembling of congress. ' , - With congress called to convene in extraordinary session April 2 to consider further steps to, meet Germany’s ruthless submarine warfare, administration officials today were awaiting with the tensest' anxiety further developments in the situation. It is realized that between now and the assembling of congress are days pregnant with tremendous import to the United States. Meanwhile, believing that Germany, by the hostile acts of her submarines, actually is making war on the United States, and determined that it shall be so recognized, government officials are bending all their energies to meet that condition by putting the nation's armed forces and resources in readiness for any eventuality. Wilson Drafts Address. President Wilson is believed to be preparing congress and to show that war actually has existed for some time. Congress probably will appropriate a billion dollars for national defense and authorize the president to use the armed forces of the United States against Germany.