Woodrow Wilson: “They sought by violence to destroy our industries and arrest our commerce.”

We have been vigorously building up a great merchant marine and providing for improvement of marketing in foreign countries by the passage of an export trade law.

Clearly, this is no time for the erection here of high trade barriers.

A recommendation at this time that suitable legislative action should be taken may appear somewhat premature, but in view of the approaching termination of my administration I have brought this matter to your attention, hoping that…

In recommending to you that Congress take appropriate action with regard to this agreement, certain facts should be brought to your attention.