The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-02-09

ing diplomatic relations with Ger
many:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
The Imperial German Government
on the 3lst of January announced to
this Government and to the Govern
ments of the other neutral nations
that on and after the first day OF
February, the present month, it would
adopt policy with regard to the use
OF submarines against all shipping
seeking to pass through certain deslg-
mated areas OF the high seas, to which
it is clearly my duty to call your
attention.
Sussex Warning.
"'If it is still the purpose Of the
Imperial Government TO prosecute
relentless and indiscriminate war;
fare 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
one course it can pursue. Unless the
Imperial Government should now inn
mediately declare and effect an aban-
donment of its present methods OF
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels, the
Government of the United States can
have no choice but TO sever dipbo-
matte relations with the German En-
pire altogether
"In reply to the declaration the
Imperial German Government gave
this Government the following as
surance:
1.-THE German Government is pre-
pared to do its utmost to conire the
operations of war for the rest Of its
duration TO the fighting forces OF the
belligerents, thereby also assuring Ike
freedom & the seas. principle upon
which ia German Government be-
lieves nov, Is before, to be in agree
ment with the Government, Of the
United States.
Germany's Pledge.
"'The German Government, guild
ed by this idea. notifies the Govern
ment of the United tates that the
German naval forces have received
the following orders: In accordance
with the geenral principles of visit
and search and destruction Of mer-
chant vessels recognized by interna-
tional law, such vessels, both with
in and without the area declared a
naval war zone. shall not be sunk
without warning and without saving
human lives unless these ships at
tempt to escape of offer resistance.
But it added, 'neutrals can't
expect that Germany, forced to fight
for her existence, shall for the sake
og neutral interest, restrict the use
of an effective weapon if her enemy
is permitted to continue to apply at
will methods of warfare violating the
rules of international law. Such de-
mand would be incompatible with the
character of neutrality, and the Ger
man Government is convinced that
the Government of the United States
does not think of making such a de-
mand knowing that the Government
OF the United States has repeatedly
declared that it is determined to re-
store the principle of the freedom OF
the seas, from whatever quarter 1t has
been violated"
Protection of Americans.
To this the Government of the
United States replied. on May 8, ac-
-cepting. Of course, the assurances
given. 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 to imply that the maintenance
OF its newly announced policy is in
any way contingent upon the course
or result of diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the Government OF the United
States and any other beiligerent Gov
crnment Notwithstanding the fact
that certain passages in the Imperial
Governments note of the 4th inst.
might appear to be susceptible of that
construction. In order, however, to
avoid any misunderstanding, the Gov
ernment of the United States notifies
the Imperial Government that it can
no. for a 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 or in the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any
other Government, affecting the rights
OF neutrals and noncombatants. Re-
opsnsibility in such matters is single,
not joint, absolute, not relative"
Pledge Withdrawn.
To this note of May s the Impe-
rial German Government made no re-
ply
On January 81. the Wednesday OF
the present week, the German Am
bassador handed to the Secretary of
State, along with formal note,
memorandum which contained the fol-
lowing statement;
The Imperial Government, there
fore, does not doubt that the Gov
eminent of the United States will
the situation thus forced |
upon Germany by the Entente Allies
brutal methods of war and by their
to destroy the Central
Powers. and that the Government of
he United States will further realize,
hat the openly disclosed intention