The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-13
THE SUSSEX NOTE is RECEIVED
IN GERMANY

him as saying:
We did not sink the Sussex I
am as convinced of that as of
anything which has happened I'm
this war. If you read the definite
Instructions, the exact orders
each submarine commander has,
Sou would understand that the
torpedoing of the Sussex was i'm
possible. Many of our subma-
rines have returned from round
:ng up British vessels. They
sighted scores of passenger ships
going between England and
America. but not one OF these was
touched.
We have definitely agreed to
warn the crews and passengers
az passenger liners. We have lived
ZIP to that promise In every way.
We are not cut to torpedo with
out warning neutral ships bound
for England Our submarines
have respected every one Of them
SO far. and they have met scores
IN the North sea, the channel and
the Atlantic.
ON the same day that Ambassador
Gerard handed Won Jagow Secretary
Lansing's note Under Secretary of
State Zimmermaun approved the Won
HoitzendoTf interview. Zimmerman
could not make himself believe that
4 German submarine Was responsible
and the government had decided To
disavow the responsibility But such
convincing reports began 20 arrive
from the United states and from nen-
ira countries which proved beyond a
doubt that German submarine WAC
responsible. that the government had
- again bring I'D the submarine issue
~ great headquarters.
Nh"n The Noa Hotzenf rff inter
W. was FubTIshed IN tie uited
Stptes Il caused sens8t.g 1. because
II Germany maintained the attitude
which the htct OF the admiralty STAFF
had taken with the approval OF the
fof ga 80 . "A break IL diplomatic
re- o-'s colid not he avoided Sec
~ 2gv aasins. telegraphed .Amba~ss
d. ftHe5fta 10 inquire AT the foreign
c% whether the statements Of Won
itf .ktdutT represented the opinions
F ~ 1he German government Gerard
! c&43s>l .sae 10 the efthassX. but before
! arrived Or Heaksrher. Of the reich
a. ioses..4 relations committee,
~ ae, Gerard called ne In In Heck j.
So ets presence eo ash me II / knew
TIN the y GA Hott4enaorff interview
| wo0lH hring about break in dipto-
natse reiati3Hs unless 1t MAS immedi-
| aseiy d5S4NoSSss3- he told Dr. Heck
hNr - iElNm Tir. rsernpa,nn th}tt II
la taftf ~ .FtAN tNAfsAsFf tASfN vas pftAN
10 direct GermAny's foreign policies
b. vnuld ask his government to ac-
credit higu To the naval authorities
aIsd not 10 the foreign office Heck
81 her would not. believe nY statement
thaf Zimmerman had approved The
iEterview. ana assured Gerard that
slthin a very short }tuse the foreign
otfice would diSavow Non Hoitzen-
DORIS statements.
he n F kaI eft fcv. gf-
fee, however. Zimmerman not only
refused to disavow the aamiraFs state
| r-ient hut informed Heckscher that
ha had the same opinions
President Wilson was at The end
~ his patience. Probably he began
tn douht whether he could RELY upon
tn. reports of Ambassador Gerard
that there was chance OF the demo-
cratic forces in Germany coming out
ahead of the military caste. Wilson
showed his attitude plainly in the
SuSe~S not. wf1ers he said
The government Of the United
States has been very patient. Al ev-
cry stage Of this distressing expert
ence of tragedy after tragedy II has
sought To be governed by the most
thoughtful considerations OF the ex-
traordsnary circumstances Of an uu-
5A'scedented war and tn be guided by
sentiments OF very genuine friendship
for the people and the government
OF Germany. 1t has accepted the
successive explanations and assur
ances Of the imperial government as
of course given in entire sincerity and
good faith, and has hoped even
against hope that II would prove to
he possible for the imperial govern
merit so To order and control the acts
of its naval commanders as to square
its policy with the recognized prin-
cjples of humanity ms embodied in the
law OF nations. 1t has made every
allowance for Unprecedented condi-
tions and has been willing TO wait
until the facts became unmistakable
and were susceptible OF only one in
terpretation 1t now owes 1t 10 a
lust regard for its own rights to say
TO the imperial government that that
ti,,1e has come 1t has become pain
fullv evident to 1t that the position
which 1t took at the very outset is
inevitable; namely, that the use of
submarines for the destruction of en-
etpy commerce is of necessity, because
on the very character of the vessels
employed and in the very methods of
attack with which their employment
of course involves utterly incompati-
bile with the principles OF humanity,
the long -esta blished and incontrovert-
ible rights OF neutrals and the sacred
fnnlunittes OF nohcom Datants.
''If 1t Is still the purpose OF the
Imperial government TO prosecute re-
lentless and indiscrimnate 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
Iates OF humanity. the government OF
The United States Is at last forced to
The conclusion that there Is but one
,ourse 1t can pursue. Unless the i'm
serial government should now imme-
iiately declare and effect an abandon
ahent of its present methods of sub
marine warfare against passenger and
freight carrying vessels, the govern
ment OF the United States can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic re-
iations with the German government
altogsth0.