Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-19
WILSON SPEAKS
IN JOINT SESSION.
Germany Must Make Qua
rantees or Trouble Will
Follow
APPROACHING CRISIS
Every Official Realizes Tide is Nov
ing Steadily to War Betweeri the
Two Countries
APPROACHING CRISIS

Washington, April 19-The United
States Government has served prac,
tical ultimatum on Germany, demand
ing an immediate abandonment Of the
submarine warfare.
Failure on Germany's part to COM
ply will mean a severance OF dlplo-
matte relations.
This was the message which Presi-
dent Wilson read today to the Con-
gress of the United States, in tones
of solemn emphasis which eiectrl-
fled his hearers. lie said:
UNLESS the imperial German gov
ernment should now Immediately de-
clare and effect an abandonment OF
it's present methods of warfare
against passenger and freight carry
ing vessels, this Government can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic re-
lations with the government Of the
German empire altogether.
"This decision l have arrived at,
with the keenest regret; the possibil-
ity of the action contemplated l
am sure all thoughtful Americans
look forward to with unaffected re-
iuctance.H
The message was delivered before
both branches of Congress assem-
bled in the chamber of the House Of
Representatives.
The galleries were packed to their
utmast capacity with a crowd OF men
and women who sat in tense stiffness.
Foreign diplomats were present IN
large numbers. They had come to
hear Americas last word to Germany.
A note to Berlin, embodying the
demand of the United States, the
President told Congress, has been
cabled to Ambassador Gerard at ber-
lin with instructions to present it at
once to the German foreign Office.
Washington, April 19.-The move
made by the Government OF the
United States every official OF
the Administration realizes points
straight in the direction of war with
Germany. This does not: mean that
war is an inevitable consequence, but
it does mean that war is but one step
removed from diplomatic break with
tho German Government and short
step at that.
At o'clock today, President Wilson
addressed joint session of the House
and Senate. He, in the message he
delivered, reviewed the efforts he has
made during the past year to pro-
tect the rights and lives OF Ameri.
can people against the wanton at
tacks of German submarines. He
showed that his friendly efforts have
been futile, that Germany has prom
ised and temporized and dilly-dallied'
without, in effect, keeping single
pledge that she has made.
When this deplorable record was
spread wide open before Congress and
the American people, the President
then announced that he has forward
ed final note to Germany, note
which in every essential particular
is ultimatum. Anything short OF an
imm<diate and unqualified accept
tance byGermany of the demands OF
the United States will mean the in.
slant withdrawal of Ambassador
Gerard and the dismissal Of Ambas'
sador Won Bernstorff.
It is not difficult to understand that
once diplomatic relations between the
United States and Germany are sew.
cred, once the negotiations have
ceased, once all avenues of friendly
intercourse are closed it is not diff
cult to understand that such situa
ton is bordering dangerously on :
declaration of war.
Moreover. once the restraint whic'
American influences have had upo
German submarine warfare are re
moved, once the German people them
calves conclude that the America