The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-02-15
CONGRESS IS GIVEN REASONS
FOR OUR BREAK WITH GERMANY


son appeared before congress In JOINT
session this afternoon and set forth
the reasons which led him to order
the diplomatic break with Germany.
His address was as follows:
ITO the congress, February 3, 1871
Gentlemen of the Congress:
'The Imperial German government
on the 31st of January announced 10
this government and to the govern
ments of the other neutral nations
that on and after the list day of Febru-
ary, the present month, it would adopt
policy with regard to the use OF
submarines against all shipping seek
ing to pass through certain designated
areas of the high seas to which 1t is
clearly my duty to call your attention.
"Let me remind the congress that
on the 18th of April last, in view OF
the sinking on the Oath Of March OF
the cross Channel passenger steamer
Sussex by German submarine, With
out summons or warning, and the con-
seuuent loss of the lives of several
citizens Of the United States VINO
were passengers aboard her, this gov
eminent addressed a note to the I'M
pe..::al German government In which II
made the following declarations:
"If it still be the purpose of the i'm
perial government to prosecute releht-
less 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 ana
indisputable rules Of international law
and the universally recognized nc
tates 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 I'M
nerial government should now and i'm
mediately declare and effect an aban-
don1nent of it's present methods OF
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels, the gov
eminent of the United States can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic re-
lations with the German empire alto
gether.'
I'm reply to this declaration the i'm
perial German government gave TINS
government the following assurance
"'The German government is pre-
pared to do it's utmost to connne tht
operations of the war for the rest OF
its duration to the fighting forces OF
the belligerents, thereby also assuring
the freedom Of the seas, principe
mon which the German government
believes, now as before, to be IN agree
ment with the government or the
United States.
1.-The German government, gulueu
by this idea. notifies the government
of the United States that the German
naval forces have received the follow
ing orders: In accordance with the
general principles of visit and search
and destruction of merchant vessels
recognized by international law such
vessels, both within and without the
area declared as naval war zone
| declared as naval war zone, snail MOI
he sunk without warning and without
saving human lives, unless these SHIPS
attempt to escape or offer resistance
But 1t added, 'neutrals cannot
expect that Germany, forced to hghl
for her existence, shall, for the sake OF
neutral interests, restrict the use of an
affective weapon if her enemy is per
United to continue to apply at Will
methods of warfare violating the rules
of international law. Such a demand
wonld be incompatible with the char
acter of neutrality, and the German
government Is convinced that the gov
eminent of the United States does moi
think Of making such a demand
knowing that the government of the
United States has repeatedly declared
that IT is determined to restore the
nrinciple of the freedom of the seas
from whatever quarter it has been Vio-
| lated
ITO this the government of the Unit
ed States replied on the eighth of May
accepting, of course, the assurance Civ
en-, but adding:
1.-The government of the United
States feels 1t necessary to state that
It takes it for granted that the i'm
periaI German government does not
intend it to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course of re-
suits of diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the government of the United
States and other belligerent govern
ments, notwithstanding the fact that
certain passages in the imperial gov
ernment's note of the fourth instant
might appear to be susceptible Of that
construction. In order, however, to