Show PRESIDENT WILSON ISSUES ULTIMATUM GERMANS MUST CEAS tub MARINE ATTACKS OR BREAK WITH AMERICANS long expected final warning cred in note to berlin and announced by president in address to congress washington president wilsons Wll Wil sons long expected final warning to ger many that the united states will break off diplomatic relations unless she abandons her present methods of submarine warfare and immediately de dares clares her intention to do so was de livered on april 19 in a note to berlin and also was announced by tho the president in an address add ress to a joint session of con congress grebs the president considers that the next step depends solely upon germany and that three or tour four days con statute a reasonable time for a reply diplomatic history records b but ut one instance as yet where a breake breaking ng ol of relations between two first class powers has not eventually brought war that which now exists between germany and italy congress received the presidents declaration ot of his course with mixed evidences of 0 concern and approbation most of oc the leaders democrats and republicans thought the president hardly could do less and some som 8 C ex pressed the opinion that his action would not lead to war republican leader mann alone of 0 all the tion leaders openly attacked the dent for his stand he characterized it as a political play president wilsons Wil sons words leave no opportunity for double meaning in his address to congress he said 1 I have deemed it my duty to say to the imperial german government that it if it is still its purpose to prosecute relentless and indiscriminate warfare the government of the united states is at last forced to the conclusion that there here is but one course it can pursue and that unless the imperial german government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment 0 ol 01 its present methods of warfare against passenger and freight carrying eckels this government can have no t oice oce but to sever diplomatic rela eions altogether the note to berlin declares the government of the united states has been very patient 0 1 it has accepted the successive esplana and assurances of the im imperial government as of course given in en tire sincerity aud and good faith and has hoped even against hope that it won prove to be possible tor for the imperial 0 government overn vern ment so to order and control ol 01 the acts of its naval commanders as to aare its policy with the recognized principles of humanity as embodied in the law of nations it has made every allowance for unprecedented conditions and has been willing to wait until the facts became afable and were susceptible of only one interpretation it now owes it to a just rega regard rd tor for its own rights to say to the imperia government that that time has come it has become painfully evident tu tj it that the position which it took athe outset is inevitable namely the use of submarines tor for the destruction of f an n commerce is of necessity because of f the very character of the vessels employed and the very ineth methods of attack which their employment of course involves utterly in compatible Lom with the principles of humanity the long established and incontrovertible rights of neutrals and the sacred immunities of non combat ants if it still is the purpose of the tin im renal erial government to prosecute re endless less and indiscriminate warfare vessels ot of commerce hy by ahe he use of submarines without regard to chat the government of the united states stales must consider the sacred and indisputable rules ot of international law aw and the universally reco recognized ot of humanity the government rf nt the united states is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but one ourse it can pursue unless the imperial government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment ot of its present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carrying ves fels es the government of the united states can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the german empire altogether this action the government of the united unite d states con emulates iem em plates with the greatest ece but feels constrained to take in chaff ot of humanity and the rights ot neutral nations iad ad the recent attack on the chan nt lui steamer sussex the note tells ger nany liany been an isolated case the cited states might have hoped that ie 10 submarine commander acted in loa leation tol atlon tion of his governments solemn edges and that the ends of justice light have been satisfied by a disa owal reparation and his proper pun li ment but it adds tills this case un appely does sot stand alone the united states the on declares considers the torpedo ng of the sussex not only proved by he evidence but actually 1 1 by the german disclaimer of re |