Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-20
PRESIDENT SENDS ULTlMATUM TO GERMANY:
LAYS WHOLE U-B0AT ISSUE BEFORE CONGRESS
President Tells Congress, in Joint Session.
He Has Given Final Warning to Germany

, Fo"aI ~! the German government. some
evidence OF criminal mistake or 'illful
diSohcdicncc on the part of the com
rnandcr Of the vessel that fired the tor
pcdo might he sought or entertained:
bu, unhappily il docs not stand alone.
Recent events make the conclusion in
cvitable that il is only one instance.
even though il he one of the most
extreme ana distressing instances. of
: tho spirit aud method Of warfare.
which the imperial German government
has mistakenly adopted. and which.
from the first exposed that govern
ment to the reproach OF thrusting all
! neutral rights aside in pursuit Of it's
Immediate objects.
The government Of the United States
has been very patient. AZ every stage
: OF this distressing experience OF ira
Scdy after tragedy. in which it's own
citizens were involved i, has sought
to I've restrained from any extreme
course o: action or Of protest by "A
thoughtful consideration of the extra
ordinary circumstance OF this unpre-
ccdertcd war, and nctuated In all that
il said or did by the sentiments OF
q
the United States have always cntcr-
tanned and continue TO entertain to-
wards the German nation. It has. of
course. accepted the successive cXpla-
nations and assurances OF the imperial
German government as given in entire
sincerity and good faith. and has hoped.
cvci against hope that it would be
possible for the German government
To 50 order and control the acts Of
its naval commanders as to square it's
policy with the principles of humanity
rs embodied in the law of nations II
has been willing to wal, until the
Significance of the facts became abso-
lu;eiy unmiStakahle and susceptible Of
| this one interpretation
FACTS SUSCEPTIBLE
OF hut 0SE INTERPRETATION
F., That point has now unhappily been
t reached. The facts are susceptible Of
but one interpretation. The imperial
ts;err1snsgoSsr1,fneti etit titsrssstBssnfoI foI,Hbisssss'
| put any limits or restraints upon it's
warfare against either freight or pas
sengcr ships. 1t has. therefore, become
painfully evident that the position
which this government took at the
very outset is inevitable. namely, that
the use Of submarines for the destruc-
tion OF an cnemy's commerce is Of
necessity, because of tho very charac-
ter OF the vessels employed and the
very methods of attack which their
employment. of course, involves, incom-
pattble with the princip.~. OF humanity,
the long established and incontroverti-
Bile rights of neutrals. and the sacred
immunities of noLcombatants.
| have deemed il my duty. therefore,
TO say to the imperial German govern
mcnt that IL it Is still its purpose to
prosecute relentless and indiscriminate
warfare against vessels OF commerce
hr the use OF subma rines, notwith-
standing the now demonstrated impos-
Sibility OF conducting that warfare in
accordance with what the government
of the United States must consider the
sacred and indisputablc rules Of inter
national law, and the universally rccog-
nized dictates OF humanity, the govern
ncnt OF the United States is at last
forced TO the conclusion that there is
but one course II can pursuc--aud that
unless the imperial German govern
!mcnt should now Immediately declare
and effect an abandonment Of it's pres
ent methods Of warfare against pas
schScr and frcight-carryinE vessels,
this government can have no choice
but TO sever diplomatic relations with
the government OF the German empire
altogether
ARRIVED At DECISION
WITH KEENEsT REGRETI
This decision ] have arrived at with
the keencst regret: the possibility OF
the action contemplated am sure all
thoughtful Americans will look for
ward to with unaffected reluctance
But we cannot forget that we are in
some sort and by the force OF circum-
stances, the RESPONSE. .-sinan OF
| the rights of humanity. and that we
cannot remain silent while those rights
seem in process Of being swept utterly
away in the maclstrom Of this terrible
war. We Owe ii to due regard for
our own rights as n nation to our
sense Of duty AS representative OF
the rights neutrals the worId over.
and TO just conception Of the rights
Of mankind to take this stand now with
the utmost solemnty and frmness.
have taken it, and taltrn il in the
confidence that IL will ,cect with rour
approval and support. All sober
minded men must unite in hoping TINT
he imperial German government. which
has in other circumstances stood as
the champion of all that we are now
contcnding for in the interest of hu
manity, may recognize the Justice Of
our demands and meet them In the
spirit in which they are made.
S:ooo00 Fire nj EiIIrou City.