Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-02-08

of President Wilson's address to con-
eress. announcing that diplomatic re-
iations with Germany had been Sc
vered:
Imperial German government ON the
,hirty-first of January announced to
this government and 10 the govern
ments Of the other neutral nations
that on and after the first day Of Feb
ruary, the present month. it would
adopt a policy with regard to the use
Of submarines against all shipping
seeking to pass through certain de-
signated areas OF the high seas, to
which it is clearly my duty to cal!
your attention.
on the eighth of April last, in view
Of the sinking on the tw%enty-fourth
of March Of the crOss-channell pas
! senger steamer Sussex by IA German
submarine without summons of warn
ing and the consequent loss of the
lives of several citizens Of the United
States, who were passengers aboard
her, this government addressed "a
note to the imperial German govern
ment, in which it made the following
declaration:
IF it is still the purpose of the i'm
perial government to prosecute re-
lentless 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
dictates of humanity the government
of the United States is at last forced
to the conclusion that there is but
enc curse it a pursue. Unless the
imperial government should now i'm.
nediately declare and effect an aban-
donment OF its present methods OF
submarine warfare against passen.
ger and freight-carrying vessels, the
government of the United States can
have no choice but to sever diplo-
matte relations with the German en-
pire altogether"
In reply to the declaration the i'm
perial German government gave this
government the following assurance:
1.-The German government is pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine the
operations of wal for the rest of its
duration to the fighting forces of the
helligerents, thereby also insuring
the freedom of tn seas, a principle
upon which the German government,
believes itself now, as before, to be
in agreement with the government Of
the United States"
The German government, guided by
: this idea, notifies the government O
: the United States that the German
I naval forces have received the follow
. ing orders: I'm accordance with thu
general principles OF visit and search
and destruction of merchant vessels
recognized by international law, sucf
vessels, both within and without thu
area declared a naval war zone, shall
not be sunk without warning ant
j, without saving human lives, unless
, these ships attempt to escape or offel
. resistance"
y But, it added, "neutrals can't ex
T. pect Germany. forced to fight for hel
existence, shall for the sake of neu
s trail interest, restrict the use OF al
effective weapon If ner enemy Is per
Il mitted to continue to apply at vii
methods of warfare violating thu
rules Of International law. Such
demand would be incompatible wit
the character Of neutrality, and tn
n German government is convinced tina
3 the government of the United State
does MOI think OF making such a de
= mand, knowing that the government
h OF the United States has repeated
" declared that it is determined to re
V store the principle Of the freedom c
@ the seas, from whatever quarter
has been violated
To this the government of tn
United States replied, on the eight
g OF May, accepting, of course, the al
surances given, but adding:
;, 1.-THE government OF the Unite
" States feels 1t necessary to state tina
q 1t takes for granted that the imperls
n German government does not inten
to imply that the maintenance Of II
d newly announced policy Is In any wa
contingent upon the course or resu
of diplomatic negotiations betwee
the government Of the United State
"A and any other b%elligerent govern
ment, Notwithstanding the fact thu
&c certain passages in the imperial go
70 crnment's note Of the fourth instal
q might appear to be susceptible Of tn,
It construction. In order. however.
n avoid any misunderstanding, the go
cynment Of the United States notifit
the imperial government that 1t ca
not for a moment entertain, mut
/. less discuss, a suggestion that respe'
. by German naval authorities for Il
- right Of citizens Of the United Stat
OF upon the high eas should In any wa
or in the slightest degree BE- maj
n contingent upon the conduct Of al
ID other government, affecting Il
rights of neutrals and non.comba
ants. Responsibility In such matte