The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1916-04-22
PRESIDENT APPEARS BEFORE
CONGRESS

REVIEWS FACTS SHOWING THAT GER
MANY'S ASSURANCES TO U. S. ARE BE-
ING VIOLATED-ASKS NO ACTION, BUT
STATES THAT RELATIONS WILL BE
SEVERED, UNLESS GERMANY'S
SUBMARINE IS BROUGHT
WITHIN LAW
President Wilson appeared before
Congress, assembled in joint session, at
one o'clock on April 10Th, and informed
that body that he had given Germany
irrevocable notification that the United
States will sever diplomatic relations,
if her illegal submarine campaign is con-
tinued.
Americas last note, which is practi-
cally an ultimatum demanding an i'm
mediate reply, was presumably in the
Berlin office at the time the President
was speaking, it having been dispatched
the previous night The President asked
no action whatever of Congress, but
simply informed it of the accumulation
VI 1dCCSs pIONl1lS C1lclC 0C1111CIuy c1OoOA
ances to the United States are being
violated; Furthermore, that the subma-
rine campaign, despite the earnest pro-
test of the United States, is now being
conducted with renewed vigor, in con-
travention of all the laws of nations and
humanity, and that he means to sever
relations, unless this warfare is brought
within the law.
Diplomatic history shows that war
almost inevitably follows the breaking
off of relations between two govern
ments. Continuance of the longstand-
ing friendly relations between this coun-
try and Germany, the President made
clear, depends alone upon Germany's
decision. His note to Germany and his
address to Congress are final, marking
the end of diplomatic exchanges. The
two concluding paragraphs of the Pres
ident's address, which was only ten min
utes in length, are as follows:
''Vessels of neutral ownership, even
vessels of neutral ownership bound from
neutral port to neutral port, have been
destroyed along with vessels of belliger-
ent ownership in constantly increasing
numbers. Sometimes the merchantmen
attacked has been warned and sum-
moned to surrender before being fired
on or torpedoed; sometimes passengers
or crews have been vouchsafed the poor
security Of being allowed to take to the
ships boats before she was sent to the
bottom. But again no warning has been
given; no escape even to the ships boats
allowed to those on board.
''What this government foresaw must
happen has happened. Tragedy has
followed tragedy on the seas in such
fashion, with such attendant circum-
stances, as to make it grossly evident
that warfare Of such sort, if warfare
it be, cannot be carried on without the
most palpable violation of the dictates
alike of right and humanity. Whatever
the disposition and intention of the i'm
perial German government, it has mani
festly proved impossible for it to keep
such methods Of attack upon the COM
merce of it's enemies within the bounds
set by either the reason or the heart of
mankind"
There is no question but that the Pres
ident is intensely in earnest, and means
precisely what he says. His action was
taken calmly, and after long delibera-
ton.
The American ultimatum to Berlin
concluded with these ominous words:
"Unless the imperial government
should now Immediately declare and eff
feet an abandonment Of it's present
methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight carrying vessels,
the government of the United States can
have no choice but to sever diplomatic
relations with the German empire alto
gether. This action the government of
the United States contemplates with the
greatest reluctance, but feels con-
strained to take in behalf of humanity
and the rights Of neutral nations"