The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-02-08

western Newspaper Union News SerVic@
shington.-President Wilson has
broken off diplomatic relations with
Germany and warned the Kaiser that
ruthless sacrifice of American lives
and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Austria
when she notifies this Government
that she joins in the campaign of un-
restricted submarine warfare. The
President made formal announcement
of his action to the country and to the
world at joint session of Congress.
Breaking off diplomatic relations
brings the United States to the verge
of war. Never in he history OF the
world have two first-class powers sew
cred their diplomatic relations with
out hostilities following:
Carefully Considers Step.
President Wilson, in taking the mo-
mentous step, has counted the conse-
Quences carefully, as have all his ad-
visors. Germany, all her officials have
openly said, had counted the cost OF
a break with the United States and
was prepared to pay it in the nope OF
shortening the war.
Passports have been handed to
Count Won Bernstorff; Ambassador Ger
ard, with all his staff and all Ameri-
can Consuls have been ordered out
of Germany. All German Consuls in
the United States are expected to
withdraw that the severance of rela-
tions may be complete. American dip
iomatic interests in Berlin have been
turned over to Spain; German diplo-
matte interests in the United States
have been taken over by Switzerland
Foreign diplomatic interests which the
United States had in charge in Ger
many have been turned over to vari-
Gus neutrals.
Two years of diplomatic negotiation,
marked with frequent crises, and at
tended with the loss of more than 200
American lives on the high seas. have
eliminated with an act which in all
the history of all the world has always
led to war.
To Watch German Adherents.
Every agency of the American Gov
ernment has been set in motion to pro-
tect the country against acts of Ger
man sympathizers. These moves are
of necessity being kept secret.
With the notice Of severance of dip
lomatic relations the United States
sent to Berlin demand for the imme-
diate release of "A Americans taken
from ships captured by German raid
ers in the South Atlantic.
At the request of the President Con-
gress immeditely after hearing his
address began work on new laws
framed by the Department of Justice
to check conspiraCies and plots against
the United States which can not now
be reached under existing statutes.
The question of conveying American
merchant ships through the submarine
blockade has been taken up and is
being considered as one of the next
moves by this Government.
Neutral Governments have been no.
titled of the action of the United
States and have openly been invited to
follow its action if the new submarine
campaign violates their rights.
The breaking off Of relations came
with crash, despite the fact that it
had been discounted and practically
determined upon the previous night.
The President returned from his night
conference with the Senators detur.
mined that a break in relations was
the only act Consistent with the dig.
nifty and the honor of the United
States"
1t became known that Ambassador
Gerard had been ordered home, and
that passports had been sent to Count
Won Bernstorff four hours before the
President formally announced it him,
self to Congress, the knowledge
spread rapidly. Count Won Bernstorff
heard it unofficially while talking with
a correspondent. While apparently
deeply moved he was not surprised
His first act was to ask Dr. Paul Rit'
ter, the Swiss Minister, to come to the
German Embassy and prepare to take
over its affairs Then he informed his
WIFE an American-born woman, of the
development and likewise told the EN-.
bassy staff.
President Wilson kept himself in Sc.
clusion, except for a brief conference
with Secretary Lansing, until he left
the White House for the Capitol short.
ly before meeting with Congress.
President Wilson's address before
Congress follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress.
"The The Imperial German Govern
ment on the thirty-first of January an