Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-04-28
PRESIDENT WILSON
ISSUES ULT|MATUM
GERMANS MUST CEASE SUB.
MARINE ATTACKS OR BREAK
WITH AMERICANS.
Long Expected Final Warning Deliv-
cred In Note TO Berlin and An
nounced by President In
Address to Congress.

Washington. - President Wilson's
long-expected final warning to Ger.
many that the United States will break
off diplomatic relations unless she
abandons her present methods of sub
marine warfare and Immediately de.
clares her intention to do so, was de.
livered on April 19 in note to Berlin
and also was announced by the presi-
dent in an address to Joint session of
congress.
The president considers that the
next step depends solely upon Ger
many and that three or four days con
stitute a reasonable time for reply.
Diplomatic history records but one
instance as yet where a breaking OF
relations between two first-class pow
ers has not eventually brought war
that which now exists between Ger
many and Italy.
Congress received the presidents
declaration of his course with mixed
evidences of concern and appreciation.
Most of the leaders, democrats and
Republicans, thought the president
hardly could do less, and some ex-
pressed the opinion that his action
would not lead to war. Republican
Leader Mann alone of all the opposi-
ton leaders openly attacked the presi'
dent for his stand. He characterized
1t as a political play.
President Wilson's words leave no
opportunity for double meaning. In
his address to congress he said:
l.. 4 %
the imperial German government that
IL 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 1t can pursue;
and that unless the imperial German
government should now, Immediately.
declare and effect an abandonment of
its present methods of warfare
against passenger and freight carrying
vessels this government can have no
choice but to sever diplomatic rela-
lions altogether"
The note to Berlin declares:
1.-THE government of the United
States has been very patient.
1t has accepted the successive explana-
tions and assurances of the imperial
tire sincerity and good faith, and has
hoped even against hope that 1t would
prove to be possible for the imperial
government so to order and control the
acts of its naval commanders as to
square it's policy with the recognized
principles of humanity as embodied
in the law of nations. II has made
every allowance for unprecedented
conditions and has been willing to
wait until the facts became unmis.
taxable and were susceptible of only
one Interpretation.
ut now owes II to Just regard for
its own rights to say to the imperial
government that that time has come.
1T has become painfully evident to
ii that the position which II took at
the outset Is inevitable, namely, the
use of submarines for the destruction
of an enemy's commerce is of neces-
sity, because of the very character OF
the vessels employed and the very
methods of attack which their employ
ment of course involves, utterly in.
compatible with the principles of hu.
manity, the long established and in.
controvertible rights of neutrals and
the sacred immunities of non-combat-
ants.
IF II still is the purpose of the i'm
perial government to prosecute re-
lentless 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-carrying YES
sells, the government of the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether. This action the
government of the United States con
templates with the greatest reluct-
anoe, but feels constrained to take in
behalf of humanity and the rights OF
neutral nations"
Had the recent attack on the chan
mel steamer Sussex, the note tells Ger
many, been an isolated case, the
United States might have hoped that
the submarine commander acted in
violation of his governments solemn
pledges and that the ends of Justice
might have been satisfied by a disa.
vowal, reparation and his proper pun.
ishment. But, 1t adds, this case 'un-
happily does not stand alone"
The United States, the communica-
ton declares, considers the torpedo
ing of the Sussex not only proved by
the evidence, hut actually substantial,
ed by the German disclaimer OF. ra-
sponsibility.
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