The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-02-09
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS why
We HAVE BROKEN WITH GERMANY

Responsibility in such matters is
single, not joint; absolute, not rela-
tive
'TO this note of the eighth of May
the imperial German government made
no reply. On the thirty-tirst of Janu-
airy, the Wednesday OF the present
week. the German ambassador handed
to the secretary of state, along with n
formal note. a memorandum which
contains the following statements:
1.-THE imperial government. there
fore. does not doubt that the govern,
ment of the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the entente allies brutal
methods of war and by their determine
ton to destroy the central powers, and
that the government of the United
states will further realize that the
now openly disclosed intentions OF the
entente allies give back to Germany
the freedom of action which she re-
served in her note addressed to the
government Of the United States on
May 4, 1916.
"'Under these circumstances Ger
many will meet the illegal measures
Of her enemies by forcibly preventing
after February /, 1917, in zone
around Great Britain, France, Italy
and in the eastern Mediterranean all
navigation, that Of neutrals included,
from and TO England and from and to
France. etc. etc. All ships net within
the zone will be sunk
II think that you will agree with me
that. in view Of this declaration. which
suddenly and without prior intimation
of any kind deliberately withdraws
the solemn assurance given In the i'm
perial governments note of the fourth
of May, 1915, this government has no
alternative consistent with the dignity
and honor Of the United States, but TO
take the course which. in ITS note of
the eighteenth of April. 1916, II an
nounced that II would take In the
event that the German government did
not declare and effect an abandonment
Of the methods of submarine warfare
which 1t was then employing and to
which 1t now purposes again to re.
sort.
81 have, therefore, directed the sec
rotary of state to announce TO his eX-
cellency the German ambassador that
all diplomatic relations between the
United States and the German empire
are severed and that the American am
no ar1s No Il; II,
withdrawn. and in accordance with
this decision to hand to his excellency
his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action Of the German government,
this sudden and deeply deplored re-
nunciation of its assurances, given
this government at one of the most
critical moments Of tension in the re-
lations of the two governments, / re-
fuse to believe that II is the intention
Of the German authorities to do in
fact what they have warned us they
will feel at liberty to do. l cannot
bring myself to believe that they will
indeed pay no regard to the ancient
friendship between their people and
our own or to the solemn obligations
which have been exchanged between
them and destroy American ships and
take the lives of American citizens
in the willful prosecution Of the ruth
less naval program they have an
nounced their intention TO adopt. Only
actual overt acts on their part can
make me believe 1t even now
IF this inveterate confidence on my
part In the sobriety and prudent fore
sight Of their purpose should unhappily
prove unfounded; If American ships
and American lives should in fact be
sacrificed by their naval commanders
in needless contravention Of the just
and reasonable understandings Of in
ternational law and the obvious die
tates of humanity, shall take the lib
erty Of coming again before the con-
gress, to ask that authority be given
me 10 use any means that may be nee
essary for protection of our seamen
and our people In the prosecution Of
their peaceful and legitimate errands
on the high seas. l can do nothing
less. L ldhe III LOT RTdHleu lHdL al
neutral governments will take the same
course.
1--WE do not desire any hostile con.
fllct with the imperial German govern
ment. We are the sincere friends Of
the German people and earnestly de-
sire to remain at peace with the gov
eminent which speaks Tor them. We
shall not believe that they are hostile
to us unless and until we are Obliged
to believe 1t, and we purpose nothing
more than the reasonable defense Of
the undoubted rights Of our people.
We wish to serve no selfish ends. We
seek merely to stand true alike in
thought and in action, TO the imme-
mortal principles of pur people which
l sought to express IN my address to
the senate only two weeks ago-seek
merely to vindicate 'hIr right to liberty
and an unmolested life. These are
the bases Of peace, not war. Grant
that we shall not be challenged to de-