| Show PRESIDENT WILSO N I 1 U ULTIMATUM fin GERMANS MUST CEASE SUB MARINE ATTACKS OR BREAK WITH AMERICANS long elpe expected acted final warning baliv ered in note to berlin and an bounced by president dint in ad address dress to congress washington president wilsons Wll Wil sons long expected final warning to ger many that thai the united states will creak break oft off diplomatic relations unless she abandons her present methods of submarine warfare and immediately declares her intention to do so was delivered on april 19 in a note to berlin and also was announced by the president in an address to a joint session of congress the preg president ident considers that the next step depends solely upon germany and that three or four days constitute a reasonable time tor for a reply diplomatic history records but one instance as yet yek where a breaking 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 of his course with mixed evidences of concern and approbation most of the leaders democrats and republicans thought the president hardly could do less and some expressed the opinion that his action would not lead to war republican leader mann alone of all the opposition leaders openly attacked the president for his stand he characterized it as a political play president wilsons Wll Wil sons words leave no opportunity for double meaning in his address to congress ho he sald 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 is but one course it can pursue and that unless the imperial german government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its iti present methods of warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels this government can have no holce choice but to sever diplomatic relations altogether the note to berlin declares the government of the united states has been very patient it has accepted the successive explanations and assurances of the imperial government as of course given in entire sincerity and good falth faith and has hoped even against hope that it would prove to be possible for the imperial government so to order and control the acts of its naval commanders as to td square 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 unmistakable t and were susceptible of only one interpretation it now owes it to a just regard jor 1 its t 13 own rights to say to the imperial government that that time has come it has become painfully evident to it that the position which it took at the outset is inevitable namely the fuse use of submarines tor for the destruction of an ene nays commerce Is of necessity because of the very character ot of the vessels employed and the very ineth methods ot of attack which their employment of course involves utterly incompatible with the principles of humanity the long established and in controvertible rights of neutrals and the sacred immunities of non combat ants it if it still is the purpose of the imperial government to prosecute relentless lent less and indiscriminate warfare against vessels of commerce by the use of submarines without regard to what the government of the united states must consider the sacred and indisputable rules of international law and the universally recognized dictates of humanity the government of the united states Is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but one course it can pursue unless the imperial government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight car carrying vessels the government of tile united states can have no choice thoice but to sever diplomatic relations with the german emp empire ire altonet altogether her this action the govern government men t of the united states contemplates with the greatest reluctance but feels constrained to take in behalf of humanity and the rights ot of neutral nat nations lons had the recent attack on the channel steamer sussex the note tells germany been an isolated case the united states might haye have hoped that the submarine commander acted jn n violation of his governments solemn pledges and that the ends of justice might have been satisfied by a disavowal reparation and his proper punishment Isbin ish ment ent but it adds this case unhappily does aces not sta stand nd alone the united states the communication declares consla considers ers the tha torpedoing of the sussex not fiot only proved by the evidence but actually substantiated by the german disclaimer of responsibility |
