August 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, August 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/28/2014
President Woodrow Wilson here signs this important WWI-dated speech, delivered on 19 April 1916 in response to Germany's unrestricted naval warfare, particularly in response to neutral vessels being attacked in waters around England and Ireland. Printed and bound speech is titled, ''Address of the President of the United States / Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress / April 19, 1916''; in it, Wilson threatens to sever diplomatic relations with Germany citing the German attack on the French steamer ''Sussex'' as flouting the post-''Lusitania'' exchanges. After this speech, Germany abandoned its U-boat campaign around Britain and the Mediterranean in response. When they reintroduced the policy the following February, the U.S. declared war on Germany on 6 April 1917. Speech reads in part: ''Gentlemen of the Congress: A situation has arisen in the foreign relations of the country which it is my plain duty to inform you very frankly. It will be recalled that in February, 1915, the Imperial German Government announced its intention to treat the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland as embraced within the seat of war and to destroy all merchant ships owned by its enemies that might be found within any part of that portion of the high seas, and that it warned all vessels, of neutral as well as belligerent ownership, to keep out of the waters it had thus prescribed or else enter them at their peril. The Government of the United States earnestly protested...'' Wilson then speaks to Germany's disregard of the law of nations, ''...the commanders of German undersea vessels have attacked merchant ships with greater and greater activity, not only upon the high seas surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, but wherever they could encounter them, in a way that has grown more and more ruthless...'' Signed boldly, ''Woodrow Wilson'' at the close on page 7. Issued by the Government Printing Office, speech is bound in blue cloth boards measuring 5.75'' x 9.25'' and runs 7pp. with additional blank endpapers. Minor toning to pages, else near fine.
Woodrow Wilson 1916 Speech Signed as President -- Wilson Threatens to Sever Diplomatic Relations With Germany in Response to Naval Campaign Violations
Click above for larger image.