Show ewason severs diplomatic relations W ith german war warning sent kaiser who is told 3 that loss of american tive lives s at sea means AH hostilities 1 dl bcd passports are handed count von bernstorff german ambassador and ambassador gerard and his staff have been ordered home dignity and honor of nation demands step says president washington president wilson has broken off diplomatic relations with germany and warn edthe edithe kaiser that ruthless sacrifice of american lives and rights means war similar action Is waiting for austria when she notifies this govern government meni that she joins in the campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare the president made formal announcement no Mo of his action to the country and to the world on february 3 at a joint session of congress passports have been handed count von bernstorff raf ambassador gerard with his bis staff f and all Aine american rican cone consuls have bave been ordered outs out of germany all german consuls tn tin the united states are expected to withdraw that the severance of relations may toe be complete american diplo matto interests in berlin haven been turned over to spain german diplomatic interests in the united states have havel been taken over by switzerland foreign diplomatic interests which the united states had in charge in germany have been turned over to various neutrals two years of diplomatic negotiation marked with frequent crises and attended with the loss of more than american lives on the high seas have culminated with an act which in all the history cfall of all the world has always led to war every agency of the american government h haa as been set in motion to protect the country against acts ot of german sympathizers these moves are of necessity being kept secret with the notice of I 1 severance of diplomatic relations the united states sent to berlin a de demand baand ford for the immediate release of sixty four americans taken from ships captured toy by german raiders in the south atlantic at the request of thel the president congress immediately after hearing his bis address id diess began work on new laws fr framed amed by the department of justice to check conspiracies and nd Plots against the united states which cannot be reached under existing statutes the question of convoying amerlean american merchant ships through the submarine blockade has haa been taken up and is being considered as one of the next moves by this government the news of the torpedoing of the american steamer housatonic coming almost before president wilsons Wil Wll sons words in congress had died away axe cre abed a tremendous sensation but it does not necessarily constitute such an invasion of as president said he would meet by asking con congress ress for additional authority authority to act j at 1030 saturday morning it became known that ambassador gerard had been ordered home and that passports haiblen had hai been serit sent t to 0 count von bernstorff although there was no official confirmation of the prester presidents decision until if he er formally announced it ii himself to congress the knowledge spread rapidly count von ton bernstorff heard it un while talking with a press correspondent respondent or while apparently deeply moved be was not surprised fujs first act was to ask dr paul RIV kit iter the swiss minister to come to the german embassy and prepare to take over its affairs then he informed his wife aa american bom wor woman nap of the tha development and likewise told the an babsy staff his passports tas wore were not actually dell delivered vered until 2 in the afeei afternoon noon president wilso allson n kept himself tn in seclusion during the morning except for a brief conference with Sect secretary tary lansing until he left the white house tor for the capitol shortly before 2 As usual a committee of congressmen met th the e president and escorted wm to the speakers dais the whole body roseand rose and cheered as the president acknowledging their greeting without his r usual sual smile but grim faced and solemn took his place at the clerks desk and began reading the decur document ent which is being heard board round the world briefly he be reviewed how last april the united states warned germany after the destruction of the sussex that unless the imperial government lec declared lared and effected abandonment an of that sort ot of submarine warfare the united states would have no choice but to sever relations altogether then he be quoted from the german reply which gave assurances that no ships would be sunk without warning and provision tor for safety of passengers and crew he recounted the provision the german government At attached ached which in effect reserved to itself the right to recant its promises it if the united states did not secure relaxation of the british restraints on commerce and then quoted from the reply of the united states which refused to consider a conditional pledge ind gave gavet i germany final warning that it could nt not entertain or discuss any such such suggestion the president did not refer to the long list of submarine operations which have bave been conducted in violation atthe ot the sussex pledge but proceeded at once to the new war scene order which became effective february 1 when he told how the german proclamation la lar left nothing tor for the honor and dignity ortho of the united states tout a break in relations and that be had ordered pad passports sports sent to von bern fand and a recall homr to mr Ger gerard ardth the 4 assemblage broke into a cheet cheer IN im which republicans and democrats alike joined more applause greeted his declaration that oal only an overt act could auld convince him that germany tn in tended to violate american lives ani and rights and there was prolonged applause and cheering when be concluded iby by announcing that should american ships and lives be sacrificed in heedless contravention ot ol the just and reasonable understanding ot of international ter national law and the obvious dictates of f h humanity um anity he ha would again appear before congress congress to ask authority to use any indans means that may bo be necessary for the protection of ours our seamen and our people ashe As he concluded there were cheers of approval from tooth both sides side s of the chamber and the president denI returned d to the white house to discuss measures of precaution with secretary daniels of the navy and Secre secretary iary baker of the war department neutral governments have been notified of the action of the united stat states es and have been openly invited invite to follow its action if the new sub marine campaign violates their rights |