The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-04-20
President Tells Con-
gresS Of Action.
ASKS PROMPT YIELDING
Declares BeFlin'S Solemn AS
SuTanCeS Have Been Re-
peaiGdIy Broken.

Washington, April 20-President
Wilson told congress, assembled in
joint session. he has given Germany
irrevocable notification that the Unit
ed States will break off diplomatic re-
lations if her illegal submarine cam.
paign is continued.
A note. Americas s last word prac.
tically an ultimatum and demanding
an immediate reply, presumably was
in the Berlin foreign Office as the
president was speaking Ii was dis
patched previously in accordance with
the presidents plan to have it before
the German government at the same
moment he was addressing the Amer
ican congress.
The president asked no action what.
ever of congress. He simply inform
ed it of the accumulation of facts prov.
ing Germanys assurances to the Unit
ed States are being violated; that the
submarine campaign, despite the earn.
est protests OF the United States is
being conducted with renewed vigor
in contraventiOn of all the laws Of
nations and humanity and that he
means to sever relations unless it is
brought within the law. Diplomatic
history of the world shows that such
/ a course IS almost certain to be fol
/ lowed by war.
Ends Diplomatic Exchanges.
The presidents note and his address
4 to congress are final They mark the
4 end of diplomatic exchanges. A con
+ tinuance of the long standing friendly
+ relations. the president made clear
depends alone on Germanys conduct
Il have deemed it my duty, there
fore" the president told congress. ''tC
say to the imperial German govern
ment that if it is still its purpose tC
+ prosecute relentless and indiscrimi
nate warfare the government of the
United States Is at least forced t
the conclusion that there is but one
Il course it can pursue; and that unless
the imperial German governmen
should now and Immediately declare
and effect an abandonment of its pres
ent methods of warfare against pas
senger and freight carrying vessels
this government can have no choice
but to sever diplomatic relations alto
gether"
The president began his address
speaking slowly and distinctly. Hi
voice was heard throughout the cham
ber
As he began the review of the Ger
man submarine campaign there wa
no demonstration to punctuate his re
cital of the sacrifice of American lives
Not a word was heard above the pres
dents voice as he spoke the name Lit
sitania
Hearers Listen Eagerly.
. Every head bowed forward as tn
. president indicated that he was al
. preaching the keynote of his mes
sage, the announcement of the cours
he will pursue His declaration tha
Germany had made 1t plain she Intend
ed to continue indiscriminate warfar
/ in defiance of international law an
the protests of the United States wa
followed by the statement that thi
determination had left but one cours
open to the United States
When he pronounced the words {
the ultimatum declaring that unles
, Germany should Immediately declar
and effect an abandonment of indi
criminate submarine warfare this go
ernment would have no choice but
, sever diplomatic relations there wa
still no demonstration, only a tens
silence and a reflection of the gravit
of his words.
When he concluded with expressio
of hope that Germany would SO act I
avert a regretable break with Anne
lea, the assembly broke into cheers.
$ The president spoke fifteen minute
and when he concluded he was liberia