Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-02-09

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS ON THE
GERMAN SITUATION
Washington, Feb. s.-The President
spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of Congress:
the 31st of January. announced to this
government and the governments Of tnn
other neutral nations. that ~ and after
month. Il it Would ADOPT q new policy w 9TH
regard to the use OF submarines aza'nsc
all shipping. seeking to pass through
certain designated areas OF high seas, 10
which it is clearly my duty t" call your
attention.
Let me remind Congress on the >,h
day OF APRIL In advance OF the sinking
passenger steamer Sussex by Ger'"an
submarine without a sign of warning.
and the subsequent loss of several cirl-
Gems Of the United States who were pas
dressed note to the imperial German
government in which 1t made the fol-
lowing o Ssf!2f 6@E COURSE LEFT
IT it is still the purpose. of the i'm
perial government to prosecute relentless
and indiscriminate warfare against ves-
rines without regard to what the United
States must consider the sacred and In
disputable rules Of international law and
the uniyers ss dtSta3e 9s,+e OF
States is at last forced to the conclusion
| that there Is but one course it can pur-
sue. Unless the imperial government
| ment of its present methods Of subma-
rine warfare against PASSENGER and a.d
freight vessels, the government OF the
sever the diplomatic friendship Of the
two countries.
TN reply to the said letter, the inn
perial German goyernment gave this gov
The German government Is preparing
to do it's utmost to confine the operations
of war for the rest of its duration to the
81 insuring the freedom Of the seas,
principle upon which the German gov
eminent believes now, as before, can be
United States
The German government. guided by
! this idea, notified the government of the
United States that the German naval
GERMANY ACCEPTS PLAN
=" In accordance with the general prin-
ciples of visit and search and destruction
of merchant vessels recognized by inter
national law, such vessels, both within
and without the area declared naval
warning and without saving human lives,
unless these vessels attempt to escape
or offer resistance.
But. it added. neutra1s cannot ex-
her existence, shall, for the sake Of neu-
trail nations, restrict the use of effective
: weapons If her enemies continue to aban-
warfare violating all rules of interna-
Incompatible t With the character Of the
convinced that, the government Of the
United States does not think of making
such demand, knowing that the gov
eminent Of the United states has re,
to restore the principle of freedom OF
the seas for whatever nation It has been
10 this the government Of the United
States replied on, the sth of May. &C.
ceptins Of course the assurances given'
WV BAD FIFTH FI1NTED
.. 1.-The government of the Tilted States
feels it necessary to state that it takes
1t for granted that the Imperial German
governnle mt does not intend to imply that
policy is in any way contingent upon tine
course or result OF diplomatic negotia-
tons between the government of the
government. notwithstanding the fact
that certain passages in the imperial
governments note OF the 18th inst: might
avoid any Misunderstanding the govern
ment Of the United States notified the i'm
peral that it can9ot for
suggestion that restriction by German
naval authorities for the rights of the
United States upon the high seas should
contingent upon the conduct Of any other
government, affecting the right Of neu-
trails a ana b Responsibility
ITO this note on the 9Th Of May, the
imperial German government made no
"0n the s1st Of January, the wednes-
day of the present week. the German
arba dor handed to the secretary of
state along with formal note. tmeno-
randum which contained the following
ASK BLOCKADE REMOVAL
The imperial government, therefore,
does not doubt that the government =:
the entente allies brutal methods Of
war, and that the government of the
the now openly disclosed intention Of the
entente allies give back to Germany the
freedom Of action, which she reserves
in , ssr note to the United States May
Under these circumstances, Germany
will meet their illegal measures in her
waters, by fOrc1bly preventing after rep
ruary l, In the zone waters of England,
France. Italy and Russia, all navigati
, that of neutra1s included, from and to
England, and from and to France, ETC..
etc; All ships remaining 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 intimatlon
Of any kind. deliberately withdraws the
solemn assurances given in the imperial
governments note on the 4th OF May.
1876 this government has no alternative
consistent wi. the dignity and honor of
the United States but to take the course
which in its note Of the 18th OF April.
i 1916, it announced that it would take in
event that the German government. did
not declare in effect an abolishnent .of
the methods of. submarine warfare wh'ch
| proposes to again resort.
RELATIONS WITHDRAWN
! Il have, therefore. directed the secre-
! cellencv. the German Ambassador, that