New Britain herald., 1916-04-20

from neutral port to neutral port, have been destroyed, along Wlth Ves- sels of belligerent ownership, Tn con- stantly increasing numbers some times the merchantmen attacked have been warned and summoned 'o surrender before being fired on or torpedoed; sometimes their passen- gers and crews have been Vouch- safed the poor security of being al- lowed to take to the ships boats be- fore the ship was sent to the bottom. But again and again no warning has been given, no escape even to the ships boats allowed to those on board.
 Great liners like the Lusitania and Arabic and mere passenger boats like the Sussex have been attacked with out a moments warning, often be- fore they have even become aware that they were in the presence of an armed ship of the enemy, and the lives of non-combatants passengers and crew have been destroyed whole sale and in manner which the Gov crnment of the United States cannot but regard as wantOn and without the slightest color of justification No limit of any kind has in fact been set to their indiscriminate pursuit and destruction of merchantmen Of all kinds and nationalities within the waters which the Imperial Govern ment has chosen to designate as lying within the seat of war. The roll of Americans who have lost their lives upon ships thus attacked and de- stroyed has grown month by month, until the ominous toll has mounted into the hundreds.
 The Government of the United States has been very patient. At every stage of this distressing experi- ence of tragedy after tragedy it has sought to be governed by the most thoughtful consideration of the ex- traordinary circumstances of an un- precedentel war and to be guided py sentiments of very genuine friend ship for the people and government Of Germany It has accepted the successive explanations and assur- ances of the Imperial Government, as of course given in entire sincerity and good faith, and has hoped, even against hope, that it would prove to be possible for the Imperial Govern 1nent, so to order and control the acts of it's naval commanders as to
 
 principles of humanity as embodied in the law of nations. It has made every allowance for unprecedented conditions and has been willing to wait until the facts became un- mistakable and were susceptible or cnIy one interpretation.
 Time Has Come to Halt.
 It now owes it to a just regard for it's own rights to say to the Imperial Government that that time has come. It 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- struction of an enemy's commerce is of necessity, because of the very char acter of the vessels employed and the very methods of attack which their of course involves, utter ly incompatible with the principles of humanity, the 1ong-estabnshed and incontrovertlble rights of neu- traIs, and the sacred immunities of non-combatants.
 If it is still the purpose of the 1m- perial Government to prosecute re- lentless and indiscriminate warfare against vessels of commerce by the use of submarines, without regard to what the Government of the United States must consider the sacred and indisputable rules of international law and the universally recognized dictates of humanity, the Government | of the United States is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but one course it can pursue.
 Unless the Imperial Government should now immediately declare and 1f %c methods of submarine warfare against passenger and fre1ght-carry- ing vessels, the Government of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire altogether. This } ction the Government of the United States contemplates with the greatest reluctance, but feels constrained to take in behalf of humanity and the rights of neutral nations.
 LANSING.
 Evidence in Sussex Case.
 The appendix to the note follows:
 Statement. of facts in Sussex case, note to German gov- of April IS, 1916.
 The French channel steamer Sus- sex, employed regularly in passenger service between the ports of Folke- stone, England, and Dieppe, France, IS it had been for years (French for sign office) left Folkestone for Dieppe at 1:25 p. m., March A, 1916, with 325 passengers and a crew of fifty three men. Declaration of Captain Mouffet; Rear Admiral Grassett's re- port) The passengers, among whom were about twenty five American citi- zens Telegram London mbassy, March 25, and Paris embassy, March 26 and 2S) were of several nationali-