Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-20
SOIOnS Grave as President Speaks
TELLING OF DEMANDS MADE IN
 NOTE TO GERMANY.
SYMPATHY IS REFLECTED
President Asked Nothing of Congress Simply Gave Information of Action
 He Had Taken-congressma Mann Only One to Ascribe It to Politics.

Washington, April 1e. - President Wilson's long-expepcted final warning to Germany that the United States will break off diplomatic relations un- less she abandons her present methods of submarine warfare and immediately declares her intention to do so, was delivered today in a note to Berlin and was announced by the president in an address to a joint session of congress. The president demands nothing less than the abandonment of submarine warfare against commerce.
 Both the presidents address and the American note declare in unequivocal terms that only by Germany acceding to the demand can the absolute break ing off of relations be prevented.
 Next Steps Depend Upon Germany.
 The president considers that the next step depends solely upon Germany and that three or four days constituee a reasonable time for a reply. He is willing to discuss how submarine war fare may be conducted within the lim- its of International law and humanity after Germany abandons her present methods.
 Diplomatic history records but one instance as yet where a breaking oi relations between two first class DOW. that which now exists between Ger. many and Italy.
 Mann Alone Attacked President. Congress received the president'i
 declaration of his course with mixe< evidences of concern and approbati ton
 Most of the leaders. democratic ant republican, thought the presiden
 hardly could do less, and some ex
 pressed the opinion that his actioI
 would not lead to war. Republican Leader Mann, alone of all the oppo eft NEsFrF F1
 president for his stand. He character
 ized it as political play.
 No Opportunity for Double Meanino President Wilson's words leave n, opportunity for double meaning. Il his address to congress he said: T have deemed it my duty to sa, to the imperial German goyern1nen that if it is still its purpose to prose cute relentless and indiscriminat warfare the government of tn United States is at last forced to tn
 conclusion that there is but one cours if can pursue; and that unless the i'm perial German government should nov immediately declare and effect al abandonment of its present methods O
 warfare against passenger and freigh carrying vessels this government cal have no choice but to sever diplomat l relations altogether"
 When the president had fnishet reading he looked up and, seeing Sena | tor Stones grave face, said:
 | You look as sad as I feel" The chairman's response was to in | quire of the president if he had toll
 them all he had to say. The confer 1 ence thus ended.
 GraVely Quiet SoIons. 1 The word of the presidents pla, 1 spread quickly through congress an
 when he took his place at the clerk 1 desk in the hall of the house promptl | at l o'clock he was confronted by a. | assembly of gravely quiet senators an
 representatives who greeted him wit ] applause and later hung intently upo | every word he uttered and cheered hir heartily when he finished.
 Asked Nothing of Congress. The president asked nothing of con 1 gress; he came only to inform it of hi 1 action. He did 1t in Is minutes an | congress went back to work solemnI | impressed with the situation whic | confronts the country. The scene ha | been dramatically human. The presi | dents demeanor reflected his state C mind and an impartial observer woul | readily say the demeanor of congres
 as a whole reflected its sympathy.