The Detroit times., 1916-04-20


every stage Of this distressing OK.
perience Of tragedy after tragedy In
which Its own citizens were involv-.
ed. II has sought to be restrained
from any extreme course Of action
or Of protest by thoughtful con-
sideration Of the extraordinary cir.
cumstances OF this unprecedented
war. and actuated In all that II said
or did by the sentiments Of genuine
friendship which the people Of the
United States have always enter.
taIned and continues to entsrtain to-
wards the German nation. II has, OF
course. accepted the successive ex'
plantations and assurances Of the in-
perial German government a. given
In cntire sincerity and good faith
and has hoped, even against hope,
that II would prove 10 be possible
for the German government 40 to or
der and control the acts OF its naval
commanders ~ to square its policy
with the principles OF humanity ~
embodied In the laws Of nations"
The government Of the United
States has been very patient. II has
been willing to wait until the signih-
canoe Of the acts became absolutely
unmistakable and susceptible OF but
one Interpretation.
"That point has now unhappily
been reached. The facts are sus-
ceptibIe OF but one Interpretation.
The imperial German government
has been unable TO put any limits or
restraints upon It's warfare against
either freight or passenger ships. II
has. therefore. become painfully evi.
dent that the position which this
government took at the very outset
Is inevitable, namely, that the use
of submarines for the destruction Of
an enemy's merchantmen Is OF nec-
essity, because Of ths very character
of the vessels employed end the very
methods of attack which their en-
ployment of course involves. incom.
patiable with the principles OF hu-
manity, the long established and in
controvcrtible rights Of neutrals. and
the sacred immunities Of non-com-
batants.
II have deemed II my duty. there
fore. TO say to the imperial German
government that II II Is still It's pur-
pose to prosecute relentless and in
discriminate warfare against yes.
sels Of commerce by the use OF sub
marines, notwithstanding the now
demonstrated impossibility OF con-
Quoting that warfare In accordance
with what the government OF the
United States must consider the sa-
cred and indisputable rules Of inter
national law end tho universally rec.
ognized dictates OF humanity. the
government of the United States Ia
at last forced to the conclusion that
there is but one course II can pur-
sue: and that unless the imperial
German government should now I'm
mediately declare and effect an
abandonment OF It's present meth
DDS of warfsre, against passenger
and freight vessels, this government
can have no choice but to sever dip
iomatic relations with the govern
ment of the German empire alto
gether.
This decision I have arrived at
with the keenest regret; the posi-
bllity OF the action contemplated !
sure all thoughtful Americans will
look forward to with unaffected re-
iuctance. But we cannot forget that
we are In some sort and by the force
OF circumstances the responsible
spokesman of the rights Of human
ity. and that we cannot remain silent
while those rights seem In process
Of being swept utterly away In the
n,aelstrom OF this terrible war. We
owe II to a due regard for our own
rights as a nation, to our sense OF
duty az q representative Of the
rights of neutrals the world over,
and 10 q just conception OF the
rights of mankind to take this stand
now with the utmost solemnity and
hrmness.
"I have taken II, and taken II IN
the confidence that II will meet with
your approval and support. All sober
minded men must unite in hoping
that the imperial German govern
ment, which has In other circum-
stances stood a. the champion OF
all that we are now contending for
IN the interest OF humanity. may
recognise the justice OF our demands
and meet them in the spirit In which
they are made"
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