The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-06-09
Lawmakers Told of UItimatum
Demanding End of Illegal
U-B0at Acts.
MAY SEVER ALL RELATIONS
Executive Says That Unless Berlin
Government Changes Its Methods
Of Warfare Against Merchant
Vessels the United States
Will BE Forced to Sever All
Diplomatic Relations.

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 it's methods the
United States will have no choice
but to sever diplomatic relations
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 with an ex-
preston that showed its author was
fearful of the outcome.
The German explanations. previous
ly 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 It's naval commanders as to square
its policy with the position OF human
ity as embodied in the law of ma
tions."
The United States had been willing
to wait, the president said. until the
significance of the facts became abso-
lutely unmistakable and susceptible
of but one Interpretation" That point.
he said. has now unhappily been
reached"
Sussex Late Example.
"One of the latest and most shock.
ing instances of this method of war.
fare was that of the destruction of
the French cross-channel steamer
Sussex. Ii must stand forth as the
sinking of the steamer Lusitania did.
as so singularly tragical and unjusti.
fable as to constitute truly terrible
example OF the inhumanity OF subma-
rine warfare as the commanders OF
German vessels have for the past
twelve months been conducting
ii. IL this instance stood alone, some
explanation, some disavowal by the
German government. some evidence
of criminal mistake or willful disobe-
dience on the part OF the commander
OF the vessel that fired the torpedo
might be sought or entertained: but
unhappiy II does not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion
inevitable that IL is only one instance.
even though IL be one of the most ex-
treme and distressing instances. of
the spirit and method OF warfare
which the imperial German govern.
ment has mistakenly adopted, and
which from the first exposed that gov.
eminent TO the reproach of thrusting
all neutral rights aside in pursuit of
its immediate objects.
1.-The government of the United
States has been very patient. At ev.
cry stage of this distressing expert.
ence OF tragedy after tragedy In which
its own citizens were involved IL had
sought TO be restrained from any ex-
treme course Of action or of protest
by a thoughtful consideration OF the
extraordinary circumstances OF this
unprecedented war and actuated in
all il said or did by the sentiments OF
genuine friendship which the people
or the United States have always en-
tertained and continue TO entertain to-
ward the German nation. Ii has. OF
course accepted the successive expla-
nations and assurances of the impe-
rial German government as given In
entire sincerity and good faith. and
has hoped. even against hope. that ii
would prove 10 be possible for the
German government So TO order and
control the acts OF its naval comman-
ders as to square its policy with the
principles OF humanity as embodied
In the law OF nations. IL has been
willing TO wait until the Significance
OF the facts became absolutely unmis-
taxable and susceptible OF but one in.
depreciation.
THAT point has now unhappily been
reached. The facts are susceptible
Of but one Interpretation The impe-
-ial German government has been un-
able 10 put any limit or restraints
upon its warfare against either freight
or passenger ships IL has therefore
become painfully evident that the po-
sition which this government took at
the very outset is inevitable, namely
that the use OF submarines for the de-
struction OF an enemy's commerce is
Of necessity. because OF the very char.
acter OF the vessels employed and the
very methods OF attack which their
employment OF course involves. In
compatible with the principles OF hu.