JFK+50: Volume 7, No. 2350
FIRST AMERICAN RED WHITE & BLUE BOOK OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, June 24, 1917, "the first in a series of official statements" explaining how the United States was 'forced' into World War I was issued by the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.
The statements, which were prepared by Secretary of State Robert Lansing*, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels with the assistance of George Creel, were to collectively be known as the American Red, White & Blue Book.
The first statement indicted the German government by "exposing how every effort...to gain...observance of international law and treaty obligations went for naught."
The pamphlet addressed American neutrality and the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania resulting in "the wanton murder of peaceable men and innocent women and children."
The headline in an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune of June 25, 1917 written by Arthur Sears Hennings says that the United States was forced into the war by "deceits, insults (and) plots."
*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & graduated from Amherst College in 1886. RL was admitted to the bar in 1889 & served as Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.
"Why U.S. Fights Kaiser, Forced Into War By Deceits, Insults, Plots", by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 25, 1917.
FIRST AMERICAN RED WHITE & BLUE BOOK OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, June 24, 1917, "the first in a series of official statements" explaining how the United States was 'forced' into World War I was issued by the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.
The statements, which were prepared by Secretary of State Robert Lansing*, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker and Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels with the assistance of George Creel, were to collectively be known as the American Red, White & Blue Book.
The first statement indicted the German government by "exposing how every effort...to gain...observance of international law and treaty obligations went for naught."
The pamphlet addressed American neutrality and the sinking of the British passenger liner Lusitania resulting in "the wanton murder of peaceable men and innocent women and children."
The headline in an article in the Chicago Daily Tribune of June 25, 1917 written by Arthur Sears Hennings says that the United States was forced into the war by "deceits, insults (and) plots."
*Robert Lansing (1864-1928) was born in Watertown, NY & graduated from Amherst College in 1886. RL was admitted to the bar in 1889 & served as Secretary of State from 1915 to 1920.
"Why U.S. Fights Kaiser, Forced Into War By Deceits, Insults, Plots", by Arthur Sears Henning, The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 25, 1917.
Robert Lansing
Secretary of State (1919)
Library of Congress Image
Secretary of State (1919)
Library of Congress Image
