Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-04-26

Changes Her Submarine Methods,
Rupture VIII Follow-PrcSidcn
Explains to Congress Why II Has
Become Necessary for the United
States to Send Practical Ultima
tum to Gcrmnny-QmcStion of
Isrc,,k Put Up to Gc,1mnny-Am-
ln,ssador Won Bclnst0rf Says
Break viii Mean War.
Washington, April l9.-Prcsdent
Wilson's long expected final warning
to Germany that the United States
will break off diplomatic relations
unless she abandons her present ne
thods Of submarine warfare, and I'M
mcdiatcly declares her intention to
do so. was delivered to-day in note
to Berlin and was announced by the
President in an address to Il joint
session OF Congress The President
demands nothing less than the aban-
donmcnt OF submarine warfare
against commerce.
Both the Presidents address and
the American note declare in I'M"
cuuivocal terms that only by Ger
many acccding to the demand can the
breaking OFF OF relations be prevent
ed. The President considers that the
next step depends solely upon Ger
many. and that three or four days
constitute Il reasonable lime for a rc
ply. He is willing to discuss how
submarine warfare may be conGurtcd
within the limits OF International law
and humanity after Germany abal
dOnS her present methods.
Diplomatic history records only one
in CT ,,bn III l. #
relations between two iirst-class pow
ers has not eventually brought war.
that which now exists between Ger
many and Italy.
Attitude of Congress.
Congress received the Presidents
declaration OF his course with mixed
evidences OF concern and approDa-
tion. Most OF the leaders. Democrat
dent hardly could do less and some
expressed the opinion that his action
would not lead to war.
Republican Leader Mann alone OF
all the opposition leaders openly at
tackled the President for his stand.
lie characterized 1t as a political play.
President Wilson's words leave no
opportunity for double meaning. In
his address to Congress he said:
II have deemed it my duty to say
to the imperial German government
that If it is still It's purpose to prose-
wl,rNtws, 3 the gupurnmput - lIt
imjtr3 States g ~ aat lurrrG 40 ,h>
.ECH"UHtru tNll ,ny#o ist nae oar
I1UHHr 40 can isJisW&r nlG t}Er ulusS
liz nnpErieut ueiaien government
should now, Immediately, declare and
al, Il L
methods Of warfare against passenger
and freight-carrying vessels this gov
ernment can have no choice but to
sever diplomatic relations altogether
Excerpt from Note.
The note to Berlin declares:
'"r!c government Of the United
states has been very patient.
II has accepted the successive eXpla-
nations and assurances OF the ilnpc-
'ial government as, OF course, given
III entire sincerity and good Iaith.
and has hoped even against hope that
1t would prove to he possible for the
imperial govcrnrlcEt so to order and
control the acts OF its naval COM
mandcrS as to square its policy with
the recognized principles Of human
i;y as embodied in the law OF ma
lowance for unprecedented condi-
tions and has been willing to wait un-
til the facts became unmistakablc
and were susceptible OF cnly one in-
terpreta!iOn.
1T now owes it to a just regard for
its own rights to say to the imperial
SOVcr,;mc:t that that .imc has
come
Painfully Evident.
1T has become painfully evident to
it that the position which it took at
the very outset is inevitable namely,
the use OF submarines for the de-
StrnctiOn OF an cnrmy's commerce is
OF necessity because it is the very
character OF the vessels employed and
very methods Of attacks which their
employment, OF course. involves, ut
Ierly Incompatible with the princi-
pes OF humanity, the long establish
cd ard incontrOvcrtible rights OF ncu-
trails and the sacred imnuniticS OF
n-cOmhntaHtS.
III it Is still the purpose OF the i'm
pcrial government to prosecute re-
lcntleSS and indiScriminatc warfare
against vessels Of commerce by the
use Of submarines, the rov-
eminent OF the United States is at
last forced to the conclusion that
there is but one course il can pursue.
"l'nlcSs the imperial government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandOnmcnt Of its prcscnt
methods Of submarine warfare
against passenger and frcight-carry-
ing vessels, the government OF the
United States can have no choice but
to sever diplomatic relations with the
German Empire altogether