The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-04-21
DIVER WAR
MUST END,
PRESIDENT
Ullimatum to Kaiser
issued.
:
BlaUMAN|TY, CHARGE
xasaa Delivers His Message to
AIat Session Of Congress.
NgSEA POLICY IS INDICTED

American Lawmakers Are Told Sue.
rssssse steps Taken In Diver Con-
saSersy-serlin Charged with Fail.
arc 10 Carry Out Promises Made
Astrs Lusitania Sinking.
Washington, April 2O.-President
WILSON'S Message to Congress on the
Submarine issue Is as follows:
Senaemen OF the Congress-: A sit
zssaa Of the country, of which it Is my
Shaiu &uty to inform you very frank.
gK
Y will be recalled that in February,
UEss the imperial German government
1aDyasced its intention to treat the
xahrs surrounding Great Britain and
AysAaUd as embraced within the seat
ag war, and to destroy all merchant
g1Bps owned by its enemies that might
Ss f9und within any part of that por-
AVA or the high seas, and that 1t
warned all vessels of neutral, as well
swt OF the waters 1t had thus pro-
Eryiaed, or else enter them at their
agrIL
United States Protested.
TIE government of the United
Stats earnestly protested 1t took the
position that such a policy could not
De nHxsued without the practical GER
s2iSty OF gross and palpable violations
&C. me law of nations, particularly IL
f5arnarine craft were to be employed
ss frs instruments, inasmuch as the
rYGSs prescribed by that law, rules
toG7ded upon principles of humanity
ana established for the protection of
a&es lives of noncombatants at sea.
s0TSd not, in the nature of the case
ne observed by such vessels. It based
Sac protest on the ground that persons
al neutral nationality and vessels of
segfrai ownership would be exposed
NJ extreme and intolerable risks. and
1ass mo rights to close any part of the
hign seas against their use or to ex.
pcSe them to such risks could law.
sTay be asserted by any belligerent
government.
Ire law Of nations In these mat
sers, upon which the government of
sse United States based it's protest.
w ROT Of recent origin or founded I'D.
Ms merely arbitrary principles set I'D
~ convention. It is based, on the
%nuntrary, upon manifest and impera-
Hre principles of humanity and has
sszg been established with the ap-
yfrvai and by the express assent of
AZ civilized nations.
Germany Disregarded Protest.
notwithstanding the earnest pro
ssgt OF our government, the imperial
%esE1nH government at once proceed
es7 TO carry out the policy it had an
1ssznnce1- II expressed the hope that
xssr &angers involved, at any rate the
hangers to neutral vessels, would be
zrs5sced 20 minimum by the instruc-
Spus which 1T had issued to it's sub
s.isrrlne commanders, and assured the
gyyver1iment of the United States that
n would take every possible precau-
tiNE, Both to respect the rights of
2aatfsTs and to safeguard the lives OF
'EoHcombatants.
What has actually happened in the
TINT which has since elapsed has
SaSwn that these hopes we're not justi-
&ssdS and these assurances insuscepti-
Ee' OF being fulfilled In pursuance of
tsscs policy of submarine warfare
wre,f H. -
iaas tlIus announced and entered upon
Hy Tie Imperial German government
sR spite of the solemn protest of this
ygrtrnment, the commanders of Ger
IMaa undersea vessels have attacked
rssrrfIsnt ships with greater and
xrxseer activity, not only upon the
aigfi seas surrounding Great Britain
,yfsa ireland but wherever they could
sRscounter them, in way that has
sc7rvsgn more and more indtscriminate
sn the months have gone by, less and
gaxs cbssrvant OF restraints OF any.
x5zd; and have delivered their at
anc&s without conjunction against
ygxsels of every nationality and bound
zynos every sort of errand.
Neutral Vessels Not Spared.
Vessels of neutral ownership, even
ay-<cIs OF neutral ownership bound
tsvan Neutral port to neutral port, have
AseA 6csttoyed along with vessels OF
arrrxefent ownership in constantly
An7easing., numbers. Sometimes the
snetchsntrnan attacked has been
.srrrsd and summoned to surrender
Se5dre being fired on or torpedoed;
xpmcsfrnes passengers or crews have
s<,rs vouchsafed the poor security OF
ssng allowed to take to the ships
Bpxtr before she was sent to the bot
ssrp. But again and again no warning
Fnu besn given; no escape even TO the
vsh. boats allowed to those on board