Grand Blanc, Michigan, February 7, 1917.
Dear Miss. Addams: --
A definite peace propaganda against entering the war at this time, is flooding Washington with protests. Let us all [cooperate] in every way effective in checkmating the sudden militarist move in The United States and Germany, as well as doubtless in Britain, laying a trap, for the American people, and the world through securing a break with Germany, and hope for perpetuating war.
Let us urge through German Consuls <or> agents, Germany avoiding the Neroic program of war at this time through her changing her rules of submarine warfare in the zone established by her.
Should Germany not change her rules, let us work to go on [page 2] flooding Washington with protests against entering the war.
1. Precipitating war due to uninvestigated sinking of ships or other loss of American life, particularly aboard British or French merchantmen in war-ship class, though secretly so for the obvious purpose as attempted repeatedly by them hitherto, of securing precipitating this nation if that were possible, into the bloodshed.
2. Urging rendering permanent the State Department warning at present in force, that any American passengers sailing through the submarine zone, do so at their own risk.
3. Pressing for immediate warning of American interests of every description, to keep out of the said submarine zone, save at their own risk. This will protect America from any possibility of any declaration of war over the submarine question, if adopted by our representatives at Washington.
95% of the American people are against war with Germany, and all the German people are against war with the United States. Are [page 3] not these people to be heard from. Can the Administration declare for a break with Germany, over unlighted cigarettes, and then inform the body of Congress, and later depend upon the jingo press for [endorsement] of the people.
Following the climax of success for the peace movement, has Wilson any right to use his position as mask for a sudden undemocratic step unconsidered adequately, and unreferred to the sentiment of the American people. His one step of honor for the world is to avoid war, for Germany is calm and undisturbed, and says no cause for it <war> exists.
Germany's assumption is, that the inhuman slaughter for all sides will be secured through negotiations, which the Entente ruthlessly trampled under foot; following Wilson's giving the Entente the advantage in this situation, it proceeds on the supposition that the United States is desirous of becoming a partner to conquest <if she declare war without hesitation, or consideration, or consider such [action] apparently.>
The one course is for the American people to make known to Germany through protests to our Government at Washington, our true state of mind, it seems to me, in order to correct this misapprehension.
There is another side filled with ruthlessness, which Wilson ignores. [page 4]
Britain, and France treacherously armed merchant ships, and carried American and other neutral passengers, with the said ships under secret orders to so behave as to become under the status of ships of war. Now liners of Britain are to carry passengers, though under orders as ships of war. Are our citizens to be permitted to sail on them. [Let] us protest such action.
Germany is not RUTHLESS IN HER SUBMARINE WAR. SHE WARNS ALL NEUTRAL ships and other interests to remain in safe waters, just as her own craft in the blockade zone of the Entente which illegally covers the oceans of the entire globe practically. She then warns all enemy unarmed ships otherwise to avoid the war zone. SHIPS CLASSIFIED AS WAR CRAFT, NAMELY BRITAIN'S ARMED LINERS, HAVING PASSENGERS AS ARMOR PLATE ATROCIOUSLY, AND BRITISH AND FRENCH, AND ALL OTHER BELLIGERENT UN-WAR-LIKE CRAFT, NORMALLY, WHEN ARMED FOR THE OFFENSIVE, THEN BECOME THE SOLE OBJECT OF GERMANY'S legitimate warfare. Wilson is protesting against a legal position so far in advance of his logic, that Germany should relent ALONE ON GROUND OF THE IMMATURITY OF HIS [JUDGMENT] UNTEMPERED WITH OTHER WISDOM, SAVE OF THAT OF TWO OR THREE COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN OF CONGRESS, AND OF HIS CABINET.
MAY GERMANY AVOID THE TRAP LAID BY IMMATURE CRAFTY MILITARISTS, WHICH WILSON HAS SO [WEAKLY] SPRUNG IF POSSIBLE, FOR THEM. MAY AMERICA AVOID THE SAME TRAP, THE ODIUM OF THE GUILT OF DOING PRECISELY THE WRONG THING, JUST AS WORLD PEACE DAWNED IN PROMISE, [THROUGH] <Let him> WARNING ALL AMERICAN [page 5] INTERESTS FROM THE WAR-ZONE, SHOULD GERMANY FAIL TO ACT IN TIME, WHICH WE PRAY SHE MAY NOT DO. AT ANY EVENT CONSTANT EFFORT THROUGH GERMAN CONSULS, TO SECURE MITIGATION OF THE ZONE RULES IS IN ORDER. WE SHOULD NOT REMIT EFFORT IN THIS DIRECTION FOR A MOMENT.
I BELIEVE THE WOMAN'S PEACE PARTY CAN SECURE IMMEDIATE POPULAR PROTEST THROUGHOUT ITS CONSTITUENCY, AGAINST THE WAR DRIFT OF THIS NATION, THROUGH TELEGRAMS, AND LETTERS TO WASHINGTON.
WE HAVE SAVED THE SITUATION BEFORE, LET US DO SO AGAIN, SO FAR AS WE MAY IN [COOPERATION] WITH THE FORD MOVEMENT, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, THE AMERICAN NEUTRAL CONFERENCE [COMMITTEE], AND ALL OTHER STRONG PEACE FORCES.
YOURS FOR WORLD PEACE,
<Germany seems to consider America entering the War would prolong the conflict, and her purpose being to shorten the war through the Zone proclaimed, this gives hope that she will modify the rules in question. C. E. P.>
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