The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-02-08

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broken Off diplomatic relations wit
Germany and warned the Kaiser tina
ruthless sacrifice Of American live
and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Aus
tria when she notifies this Govern
ment that she joins In the campaign
Of unrestricted submarine warfare.
The President made formal an
nouncement of his action to the coun
try and to the world Saturday at Q
Joint session Of Congress.
Passports have been handed Ia
Count Won B%ernstorff; Ambassador
Garard with all his staff and all Ameri.
can consuls have been ordered out OF
Germany. All German consuls in the
United States are expected to with
draw, that the severance OF relations
may be complete. American diplo-
matte interests in Berlin have been
turned over to Spain; German diplo'
matte interests in the United States
have been taken over by Switzerland.
Foreign diplomatic interests which
the United States had in charge in
Germany have been turned over to
various neutrals.
Two years of diplomatic negotia.
lions, marked with frequent crisis,
and attended with the loss OF more
than 200 American lives on the high
seas, have eliminated with an act
which in all the history of all the
world has always led to war. Every
agency Of the American Government
has been set in motion to protect the
country against acts OF German sym
pathizers. These moves are of neces.
sity being kept secret.
With the notice of severance of rela.
tons the United States sen to Berlin
a demand for the immediate release Of
"a Americans taken from ships cap
tured by German raiders in the South
Atlantic.
At the request OF the President,
Congress Immediately after hearing
his address began work on new laws
framed by the Department of Justice
TO check conspiracies and plots against
the United States which cannot now
be reached under existing statutes.
The question Of conveying American
merchant ships through the submarine
blockade has been taken up and is be-
ing considered as one OF the next
moves by this Government.
Neutral governments have been noti-
fed Of the action of the United States
and have openly been invited to fol
low its action If the new submarine
campaign violates their rights.
The breaking off of relations came
with a crash, despite the fact that 1t
had been discounted and practically
determined upon Friday night The
President returned from his night con-
ference with the Senators determined
that a break in relations was the only
act consistent with the dignity and
tine honor of the United States"
Count Won Bernstorf while APP
parently deeply moved, was not sur
prised. His first act was to ask DR..
Paul Ritter, the Swiss Minister, to
come to the German Embassy and
prepare to take over its affairs. Then
he informed his wife, an American
born woman, Of the development and
likewise told the embassy staff. His
passports were not actually delivered
until 2 o'clock In the afternoon. While
the President was addressing Congress
n Of Secretary L%ansing's confidential
assistants called at the embassy and
delivered the passports and a note in
reply to the German declaration.
President Wilson kept himself in
seclusion during the morning, except
for a brief conference with Secretary
Lansing, until he left the White House
for the Capitol, In preparation for the
history-making event, the Senate and
House. had assembled in the hall OF
the latter body, justices of the Su,
preme Court had seats on the floor, the
Cabinet sat In. a reserved space. Am.
bassador Jusserand, OF France, occu.
pied his reserved seat in the diplo.
matte gallery, which was packed, prin.
cipally with n%eutrals, who came to
hear words Of ~far.reaching Importance
affecting their own governments.
AS usual, a committee OF Congress.
men met the President and escorted
him to the Speakers dais. The whole
body rose and cheered as the Presi.
dent, acknowledging their greeting
without his usual smile, but grim.
faced and solemn, took his place at
the clerks desk and began reading
his address.
When he told how the German proc.
lamation left nothing fer the honor
and dignity OF the United States hut
a break in relations and that he had
ordered passports sent to Won Bern.
storff and a recall TO Mr.. Gerard. the
assemblage broke into a cheer, In
which Republicans and Democrats
alike Joined. More applause greeted
his declaration that only an overt act
could convince him that Germany in.
tended TO violate American lives and
rights, and there was prolonged ap.
plause and cheering when he conclud.