The Benson signal., 1917-02-10
CONGRESS IS GIVEN REASONS
FOR OUR BREAK WITH germany

session tnlS AFTERNOON anu sci lOitH
the reasons which led him to order
the diplomatic break with Germany.
His address was as follows:
''To the congress. February 3, 1917.
Gentlemen of the Congress:
"The Imperial German government
on thes31st of January announced to
this government and to the govern
| ments of the other neutral nations
that on and after the 1st 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 it 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-
seQuent loss of the lives of several
citizens of the United States, who
were passengers aboard her, this gov
ernment addressed note to the I'M
perial German government in which it
made the following declarations:
"'If it still be the purpose of the i'm
perial government to prosecute relent-
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 and
indisputable rules of international law
and the universally recognized die
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
perial government should now and i'm
mediately declare and effect an aban-
| donment of it's present methods OF
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels, the gov
ernment of the United States can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic re-
| Iations with the German empire alto
gether.'
''In reply to this declaration the i'm
perial German government gave this
government the following assurance: ::
1.-The German government is pre-
pared to do it's utmost to confne the
operations of the war for the rest of
| it's duration to the fighting forces OF
the belligerents, thereby also assuring
| the freedom of the seas, principle
upon which the German government
believes, now as before, to be in agree
ment with the government of the
United States.
| "The German government, guided
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, shall not
be sunk without warning and without
| saving human lives, unless these ships
attempt to escape or offer resistance.
| "'But,' it added, 'neutrals cannot
expect that Germany, forced to fight
| for her existence, shall, for the sake of
neutral interests, restrict the use Of an
| effective weapon if her enemy is per-
mitted to continue to apply at will
methods of warfare violating the rules
of international law. Such demand
would be incompatible with the char
acter of neutrality, and the German
government is convinced that the gov
ernment of the United States does not
think of making such a demand,
knowing that the government of the
United States has repeatedly declared
that it is determined to restore the
principle of the freedom of the seas,
from whatever quarter it has been vio-
lated
'"To this the government of the Unit
ed States replied on the eighth of May,
accepting, of course, the assurance CIV
en-, but adding:
""The government of the United
States feels it necessary to state that
it takes. it for granted that the i'm
perial German government does not
intend it to imply that the maintenance
of it's 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
avoid any possible misunderstanding,
the government of the United States
notifies the imperial government that
it cannot for moment entertain,
much less discuss, suggestion that
respect by German naval authorities
for the rights of citizens of the United
States upon the high seas should in
any way in the slightest degree be
made contingent upon the conduct OF
any other government affecting the
rights of neutrals and noncombatants.