The Red Cloud chief., 1916-04-27
PRESIDENT Tells
CONGRESS ABOUT
HIS ULTIMATUM
Joint Session Hears Of Action
That May Result in Broken
Relations.
GERMANY SHARPLY INDICTED
Mr.. Wilson Sets Forth Progress Of
kaiser's Submarine Warfare, His
Futile Promises and the Final Elk.
haustion Of Americas Patience.

House OF Representatives. the Cap.
itol, Washington, April 20.-Sharply
indicting Germany for its use OF sub.
marines against merchant vessels.
President Wilson yesterday. before a
Joint session of congress. issued pub.
lie notice to the world that unless that
government changes its methods the
United States will have no choice
but to sever diplomatic relations.
The history in the making was
witnessed by one of the largest gath.
erings that has ever beer jammed into
the historic chamber of the house OF
representatives. Every single inch
of available space was occupied. while
literally thousands we're turned away.
There was no questioning the seri.
BUSINESS OF the presidents position
His voice, somewhat husky. penetrated
every corner OF the room, and the
message was emphasized will an OK.
preston that showed its author was
fearful of the outcome. That serious.
ness was shared by the audience. the
uoudi uDDlduSt BlNth tuc ~ " >
utterances being absent.
The message in every sense was an
ultimatum. True. II contained no time
limit within which reply must be made.
But 1t fatty insisted that the German
submarine warfare has reached the
stage when this government will nc
longer tolerate II.
The German explanations. previous.
iy made. have been accepted in good
faith. the president said. in the hope
that that government would finally
be able to so order and control the acts
Of its naval commanders as to square
its policy with the position OF human.
ity as embodied in the law of ma
lions"
The United States had beer willing
TO wait the president said. until the
Significance Of the facts became abso.
iutely u~nmistakable and susceptible
OF but one Interpretation" That point.
he said. has nov unhappily been
reached"
Text Of Presidents Address.
Following is the complete text of
.he presidents address:
Gentlemen of the Congress: A stu
alton has arisen in the foreign rela.
lions of the country of which 1t Is my
plain duty to inform you very frankly
1T will be recalled that in Febru.
airy. 1915. the imperial German govern.
mcnt announced its intention to treat
the waters surrounding Great Britain
and ireland as embraced within the
seat of war and to destroy all mer,
chant ships owned by its enemies thai
might ~ found within any part of
that portion of the high seas. and that
1t warned all vessels. OF neutral as
well as Of b%elligerent ownership, to
keep out of the waters 1t had thus
prescribed, or else enter them at their
peril. The government of the United
States earnestly protested. II took
the position that such q policy could
no be pursued without the practica'
certainty Of gross and palpable viola
tons Of the law Of nations. particular
~ II submarine craft were to be en-
ployed as Its instruments. inasmuch as
the rules prescribed by that law. rules
founded upon principles OF humanit,
and established for the protection o.
the lives OF noncombatants at sea
could not in the nature CT the case b.
observed by such vessels. II based
its protest on the ground that persons
OF neutral nationality and vessels Of
neutral ownership would be exposed
to extreme and intolerable risks, ant
that no right to close any part Of thu
pose them to such risks could lawful,
be asserted by any belligcrent govern
ment. The law Of nations In thes,
matters. upon which the government
OF the United States based its protes
is not OF recent origin or founded upor
merely arbitrary principles set up b,
convention. II ia based on the con
trary. upon manifest and imperativ,
principles Of humanity and has lon,
been established with the approva
and by the express assent of all clvI
lized nations.
Protest Mas Disresarded.
Notwithstanding the earnest pre-
Test of our government. the imperia
German government at once ~proceede,
to carry out the policy 1t has ar
nounced. II expressed the hope tina
the dangers involved, at any rate tn
dangers to neutral vessels. would b
reduced to a minimum by the instrut