authority as Secretary of the Treasury will enable
him to co-ordinate, as no other man could, the many financial
interests which will be involved and which might, unless
systematically directed, suffer very embarrassing entanglements.

A RECOGNITION OF FACTS

The Government of the United States is the only great Government now
engaged in the war which has not already assumed control of this
sort. It was thought to be in the spirit of American institutions to
attempt to do everything that was necessary through private
management, and if zeal and ability and patriotic motive could have
accomplished the necessary unification of administration, it would
certainly have been accomplished; but no zeal or ability could
overcome insuperable obstacles and I have deemed it my duty to
recognize that fact in all candor, now that it is demonstrated, and
to use without reserve the great authority reposed in me.

A great national necessity dictated the action, and I was therefore
not at liberty to abstain from it.

WOODROW WILSON.

* * * * *

The text of the proclamation follows:

Whereas, the Congress of the United States, in the exercise of the
constitutional authority vested in them, by joint resolution of the
Senate and House of Representatives, bearing date April 6, 1917,
resolved:

"That the state of 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 employ the entire naval and military forces of
the United States and the resources of the Government to
carry on war against the Imperial German Government, and
to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of
the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the
Congress of the United States."

And by joint resolution bearing date of December 7, 1917, resolved:

"That a state of war is hereby declared to exist between
the United States of America and the Imperial and Royal
Austro-Hungarian Government, and that the President be,
and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the
entire naval and military forces of the United States and
the resources of the Government to carry on war against
the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Government, and to
bring the conflict to a successful termination,