The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-04-28
PROMISES NOT KEPT
Lawmakers Told of Ultimatum
Demanding End of Illegal
U-B0at Acts.
Executive Says That Unless Berlin
Government 1hanges Its Methods
of Warfare Against Merchant
Vessels the United States
Will Be Forced to Sever All
Diplomatic Relations.


House of Representatives the Cap
ftol. Washington, April 20.-Sharply
indicting Germany for it's use or sub
marines against merchant vessels,
President Wilson yesterday. before
Joint session of congress, issued pub
lie notice to the world that unless that
government changes its 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 out -ome.
The German explanations, previous
! ly made. have been accepted in good
faith, the president said. IN the nope
that that government would finally
he able to so order and control the acts
of its naval commanders as to square
it's policy with the position OF human
ity as embodied in the Flaw of ma
TONS
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 a Late Example.
.One of the latest and most shock
ing instances of this method Of war
fare was that CT the destruction OF
the French crOss-channel steamer
Sussex. 1t 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 o.
German vessels have for the pas
twelve months been conducting
it. IL this instance stood alone. som.
exclamation, some disavowal by tn,
German government. some evidence
of criminal mistake or willful disobe
dience on the part of the commando
of the vessel that fired the torped,
might be sought or entertained; bu
unhappily it does not stand alone
Recent events make the conclusion
inevitable that it is only one instance
even though it be one Of the most e,
treme and distressing instances, O
the spirit and method OF warfar
|. which the imperial German govern
ment has mistakenly adopted. an
. which from the first exposed that go,
eminent to the reproach Of thrustin
all neutral rights aside in pursuit c
/, its immediate objects.
THE government OF the Unite
. States has been very patient. At e.
ery stage OF this distressing exper
ence of tragedy after tragedy in whic
its own citizens were involved 1t ha
sought TO be restrained from any e.
: treme course If action or of prote:
by a thoughtful consideration OF tn
extraordinary circumstances OF tn
unprecedented war and actuated
all il said or did by the sentiments
: genuine friendship which the Peep
OF the United States have always e
tertained and continue TO entertain
ward the German nation. 1t has.
l. course. accepted the successive expl
. nations and assurances OF the imp
Il rial German government as given
entire sincerity and good faith, al
has hoped, even against hope. that
- would prove 10 be possible Tor q
d German government So TO order al
Il control the acts of its naval comma
III ders as to square its policy with q
principles OF humanity as embodi
in the law OF nations. II has be
Ie willing to wait until the signifcan
e of the facts became absolutely unm
d taxable and susceptible OF but one
depreciation.
THAT point has now unhappily be
reached. The facts are susceptit
Il Of but one Interpretation. The inn
~ -iaI German government has been |
10 able TO put any limit or restrain
upon it's warfare against either freie
or passenger ships. II has thereto
q. become painfully evident that the
Id sition which this government took
Us the very outset is inevitable. name
that the use OF submarines for the
struction OF an enemys commerce
gs Of necessity. because OF the very ch
no acter OF the vessels employed and
ny very methods OF attack which IN
&c employment or course involves.
compatible with the principles or