The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-05-05
PROMISES NOT KEPT
Lawmakers Told of Ultimatum
Demanding End of Illegal
U-Boat 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 2O.-Sharply
indicting Germany for it's 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 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 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 its naval commanders as to square
it's 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. 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 OF
| German vessels have for the past
twelve months been conducting
| it. 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
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 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
it's immediate objects.
The government OF the United
States has bee. very patient. At ev-
cry stage of this distressing expert.
its own citizens were involved 1t had
sought TO be restrained from any ex
treme course Of action or OF protest
by thoughtful consideration OF the
extraordinary circumstances OF this
unprecedented war and actuated IN
all it said or did by the sentiments OF
genuine friendship which the people
OF the United States have always en-
tertained and continue to entertain to
ward the German nation. 1t has. OF
course. accepted the successive expla
nations and assurances of the impe
rial German government as given IN
entire sincerity and good faith, anc
has hoped, even against hope. that i
would prove 10 be possible for thu
German government SO to order anc
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. 1t has beer
willing TO wait until the significanc,
Of the facts became absolutely unmis
taxable and susceptible of but one in
depreciation.
That point has now unhappily beer
reached The facts are susceptible
OF but one Interpretation. The impe
-ial German government has been uD
able TO put any limit or restraint
upon its warfare against either freigh
Or passenger ships It has therefor
. become painfully evident that the pc
sition which this government took a
the very outset is inevitable. namely
that the use OF submarines for the dc
struction OF an enemy's commerce |
Of necessity. because OF the very char
acter of the vessels employed and tn
very methods or attack which thei
employment OF course involves. III
1 Of hr