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Show Wilson Severs Diplomatic Relations With Germany War Warning Sent Kaiser, Who is Told That Loss of American Lives at Sea Means Hostilities. 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. after the destruction of the Sussex :hat unless the Imperial government declared and effected an abandonment of that sort of submarine warfare the United States would have no choice but to sever displomatic relations altogether. al-together. Then he quoted from the German reply which gave assurances that no ships would be sunk without warning and provision for safety of passengers and crew. He recounted the provision the German government attached, which in effect reserved to itself the right to recant its promises 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 re-fused to consider a conditional pledge and gave Germany final warning that it could nt entertain or discuss any such suggestion. The president did not refer to the long list of submarine operations which have Ibeen conducted In violation viola-tion of the Sussex pledge, but proceeded pro-ceeded at once to the new -war scene order which became effective February Feb-ruary 1. When he told how the German proclamation proc-lamation left nothing for the honor and dignity of the United States tout a toreak in relations and that he had ordered passports sent to Von Bernstorff Bern-storff and a recall to Mr. Gerard, the; assemblage broke Into a cheer lnf which Republicans and Democrats!' alike Joined. More applause greeted his declaration that only an overt act; could convince him that Germany ln tended to violate American lives and rights, and there -was pronged applause ap-plause and cheering when he concluded con-cluded toy announcing that should American ships and lives be sacrificed, "in heedless contravention of the just and reasonable understanding of international in-ternational law and the obvious dictates dic-tates of humanity," he would again appear before congress to ask author: ity to "use any means that may foe necessary for the protection of our seamen and our people." As he concluded there were cheers, of approval from both sides of the chamber, and the president returned to the White House to discuss measures meas-ures of precaution with Secretary Daniels' of the navy and Secretary Baker of the war department. Neutral governments have been notified of the action of the United States and have been openly invited to follow its action if the new submarine sub-marine campaign violates their rights, Washington. President Wilson has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany and warned the kaiser that ruthless sacrifice of American lives and rights means war. Similar action is waiting for Austria when she notifies this government that she joins In the campaign of unrestricted un-restricted submarine warfare. The president made formal announcement an-nouncement of his action to the country coun-try and to the world on February 3 at a joint session of congress. Passports have been handed Count von Bernstorff; Ambassador Gerard, with his staff, and all American consuls con-suls have been ordered out of Germany. Ger-many. All German consuls in the United States are expected to withdraw with-draw that the severance of relations may be complete. American .diplomatic .diplo-matic Interests in Berlin have been turned over to Spain; German diplo- matic interests in the, United States have 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, negotia-tion, marked with frequent crises and attended with the loss of more than 200 American lives on the high seas, have culminated with an act which in all the history of all the world has always al-ways led to war. Every agency of the American government has been set In mot'on to protect the country against acts of German sympathizers. These moves are of necessity being kept secret. With the notice of severance of diplomatic dip-lomatic relations, the United States sent to Berlin a demand for the immediate im-mediate release of sixty-four Americans Ameri-cans taken from ships captured by German raiders in the south Atlantic. At the request of the president, congress, con-gress, immediately after hearing his address, began work on new laws framed by the department of justice to check conspiracies and plots against the United States which cannot be reached under existing statutes. The question of convoying American Amer-ican merchant ships through the submarine sub-marine blockade has 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 Housatom'c, coming almost before President Wilson's words in congress had died away, created cre-ated a tremendous sensation, but It does not necessarily constitute such an invasion of American rights as the president said he would meet by asking ask-ing congress for additional authority to act, 1 At 10:30 o'clock Saturday morning it became known that Ambassador Gerard had Ibeen ordered home and that passports had been sent to Count von Bernstorff. Although there was no official confirmation of the president's presi-dent's decision until he formally announced an-nounced it himself to congress, the knowledge spread rapidly. Count von Bernstorff heard it un-offcially un-offcially while talking with a press correspondent. While apparently deeply moved, he was not surprised. His first act was to ask Dr. Paul Rit-ter, Rit-ter, the Swiss minister, to come to the German embassy and prepare to take over its affairs. Then he informed in-formed his wife, an American born woman, of the development and likewise like-wise told the embassy staff. His passports were not actually delivered until 2 o'clock tn the afternoon. President Wilson kept himself in 6eclusion during the morning, except for a brief conference with Secretary Lansing, until he left the White House for the capitol shortly before 2 o'clock. As usual a committee of congressmen congress-men met the president and escorted ti'-m to the speaker's dais. The whole Ibody rose and cheered as the president, presi-dent, acknowledging their greeting without his usual smile, but grim-faced grim-faced and solemn, took his place at the clerk's desk and began reading the document which is being heard "round the world." Briefly he reviewed how, last April, the United States warned Germany |