763.72/3760¾
Draft of Joint Resolution To Be Introduced in Congress, April 2, 191731
Whereas, The recent course [acts] of the Imperial German Government is [are] in fact nothing less than [acts of]32 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 belligerency [war] between the United States and the Imperial German 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.
- Bracketed words represent amendments. This paper bears the notation: “Thus amended after talks April 2, 1917, with Senators Swanson and Knox and Rep. Flood. Original approved by President April 2, 11.30 am. Amendments approved by President April 2, 5 pm RL.” For text of the resolution as introduced, see Foreign Relations, 1917, supp. 1, p. 195.↩
- This bracketed expression is apparently intended to replace the phrase “nothing less than,” which has been crossed out in the original.↩