Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-20
Unequivoca1 Note
 Sent to Germany
(continued from Page one)

sideration of the extraordinary circum- stances of an unprecedented war and to be guided by sentiments of very genuine friendship for the people and government of Germany. It has ac- cepted the successive explanations and assurances of the imperial government as of course given in entire sincerity and good faith and has hoped even against hope, that it would prove to be pOSSTble for the imperial government so to order and control the acts of its naval commanders as to 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 and were suscep- uble Of only one interpretation.
 Time Has Come to Act.
 It now owes it to a just regard for its 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 very outset is inevitable namely the use Of submarines for the destruction Of an enemy'S commerce is, of necessi- ty, because of the very character of the vessels employed and the very meth ods of attacks which their employment Of course involves, utterly incompati- ble with the principles of humanity, the long established and incontroverti- | Die rights of neutrals and the sacred | immunities of non-combatants
 | Continuance Will Cause Severance of Diplomatic Relations.
 If it is still the purpose of the i'm | perlaI government to prosecute relent- | less and indiscriminate warfare against l vessels of commerce by the use of the l submarines without regard to what the | government of the United States must I "a ora1 5,,1s r,ro | rules of international law and the 1 universally recognized dictates of hu- manity, the government of the United States is at last forced to the conclu- . sion that there is but one course it can pursue Unless the imperial govern l ment should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its ] present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carry ing vessels, the government of the United States can have n choice bu sever diplomatic relations with the German empire altogether. This ac. ton the government of the United States contemplates with the greates reluctance, but feels constrained t' take in behalf of humanity and thu rights of neutral nations.
 Statement of Facts.
 The appendix to the note, under tn i caption statement of Facts in Suisse, | CSASC <AONOllApullS lllS -NOlG lO NGIIildl Government of April IS, 1916," follows The French channel steame rSusseS employed regularly in passenger ser vice between the ports of Folkestone England, and Dieppe, France, as it hat been for years (French foreign office) left FOlllestone for Dieppe at 1.25 D. IT March "A, 1916, with S25 or more pas sengers and a. crew of 53 men. (Decla ration of Captain Mouffet; Rear Ad mtral Grasset's report.) The passen gers, among whom were about 2 American citizens Telegram to Londo embassy, March 25, and Paris em bassy, March 26 and 2S), were of sev eral nationalities, and many of ther were women and children and nearl half of them subjects of neutral state! (Report of Commander Sayles an ! Lieutenant Smith; Rear Admiral Gras sets report) The Sussex carried n armament (French foreign office: re port of Commander Sayles and Lieu tenant Smith; affidavits of America passengers), has never been employe as troop ship and was following
 route not used for transporting troop from Great Briain to France. CBritis admiralty statement; French foreig office). The steamer proceeded on it | course almost due south after passin Dungeness. Declaration of Captai
 the sea smooth (afidavfts of Edn
 Hale, John H. Hearley, Gertrude W
 Warren).
 Captains Statement.
 At 2.50 D. m., when the Sussex wa
 about 13 miles from Dungeness (decla ration of Captain Moufett), the car