The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-04-28
PRESIDENT WILSON
ISSUES ULT|MATUM
GERMANS MUST CEASE SUB.
MARINE ATTACKS OR BREAK
WITH AMERICANS.
Long Expected Final Warning Deliv-
cred in Note to Berlin and An
nounced by President in
Address to Congress.

washington. - PRESIDENT WILSON
long-expected final warning to Ger.
many that the United States will break
OFF diplomatic relations unless she
abandons her present methods of sub
marine warfare and Immediately de
clares her intention to do so, was de
livered on April 10 in note to Berlin
and also was announced by the presi-
dent in an address to joint session of
congress.
The president considers that the
next step depends solely upon Ger
many and that three or four days CON
stitute reasonable time for reply
Diplomatic history records but one
instance as yet where breaking of
relations between two f1rst-class pow
ers has not eventually brought war
that which now exists between Ger
many and Italy.
Congress received the presidents
declaration of his course with mixed
evidences of concern and appreciation
Most of the leaders, democrats and
Republicans, thought the president
hardly could do less, and some ex
pressed the opinion that his action
would not lead to war. Republican
Leader Mann alone of all the opposi-
dent for his stand. He characterized
1t as political play.
President Wilson's words leave no
opportunity for double meaning. In
his address to congress he said:
Il have deemed it my duty to say to
the imperial German government that
II 1t is still its purpose to prosecute
relentless and indiscriminate warfare
the government of the United States
Is at last forced to the conclusion that
there is but one course it can pursue;
and that unless the imperial German
government should now, Immediately
declare and effect an abandonment of
its present methods of warfare
against passenger and freight carrying
vessels this government can have no
choice but to sever diplomatic rela-
tions altogether"
The note to Berlin declares:
THE government of the United
States has been very patient.
1t has accepted the successive explana-
tons and assurances of the imperial
government as, of course, given in en-
tire sincerity and good faith, and has
hoped even against hope that it would
prove to be possible for the imperia
government so to order and control the
acts of its naval commanders as to
square its policy with the recognized
principles of humanity as embodied
in the law of nations. 1t has made
every allowance for unprecedented
conditions and has been willing to
wait until the facts became unmis-
taxable and were susceptible of only
one Interpretation.
ut now owes it to just regard for
its own rights to say to the imperial
government that that time has come.
st has become painfully evident to
it that the position which it took at
the outset is inevitable, namely, the
use of submarines for the destruction
of an enemy's commerce is of neces-
sity, because of the very character of
the vessels employed and the very
methods of attack which their employ
ment of course involves, utterly in
compatible with the principles of hu
mainly, the long established and in
controvertible rights of neutrals and
the sacred immunities of non-combat
ants.
"If it still is the purpose of the i'm
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
effect an abandonment of its present
methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight-carrying YES
sells, the government of the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether This action the |
government of the United States con |
templates with the greatest reluct- |
ance, but feels constrained to take in |
behalf of humanity and the rights OF |
neutral nations"
Had the recent attack on the chan /
mel steamer Sussex, the note tells Ger |
many, been an isolated case, the |
United States might have hoped that |
the submarine commander acted in
violation of his governments solemn
pledges and that the ends of Justice
might have been satisfied by disa
vowal, reparation and his proper pun
But, it adds, this case ''un
happily does not stand alone"
ION the contrary" the note says,
the government of the United States
Is forced by recent events to conclude
that it is only one instance, even
though one of the most extreme and