Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-08
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.

The Presidents address TO the joint ses-
sion Of Congress saturday waY as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen cf tho Congress:
The imperial German government on the
31st day Of January announced to this
government and to the governments of
the other neutral nations that on and
after the LIST day Of February, the pres
cnt month. it would adopt a policy with
regard to the use of submarines against
all shipping seeking to pass through GER
tain designated areas Of the high seas,
to which it is clearly my duty to call
your attention.
Let me remind tho Congress that on the
18th of April last. in view of the sinking
on the 24th of March of the cross-chan-
mel steamship Sussex by a German SUBJ
marine without summons or warning, and
the consequent loss al the lives of several
citizens of the United States who were
passengers aboard her. this government
addressed a note to the imperial German
government. in which it made the follow
ing declaration:
IF it is still the purpose Of the imperial
German government TO prosecute relent-
less and ndiscriminate warfare against
vessels of commerce by the use Of sub
marines without regard to what the gov
eminent of the United States must con-
slider the sacred and indisputable rules
of international law and the universally
rcco Snized dictates of humanity, the gov
eminent of the United States is at last
forced to the conclusion that there is but
one course it can pursue Unless the i'm
perial government should now mmedi-
ately declare and effect an abandonment
of its present methods of submarine war
fare against passenger and freight carry
ing vessels. the government of the Unite cd
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether
In reply to this declaration thc imperial
German government gave THIS govern
ment the following assurance
| The German government is prepared r.
do its utmost to coniine the operations Of
war for the rest of its duration to th'
! fighting forces of the belligerents. there
by also insuring the freedom of the seas
a principle upon which the German gov
eminent believes now, as before, to b.
in agreement with the government of TIL,
United States.
The German government, guided by thi.
| idea, notifies the government of the
! United States that the German nava
forces have received the following orders
! In accordance with the general principles
| of visit and search and destruction %
merchant vessels recognized by inter
national law. such vessels. both within
and without the area declared nava
war zone, shall not be sunk withou
warning and without saving human lives
unless these ships attempt to escape o.
offer resistance
! But Gt added neutrals cannot expec
| that Germany, forced to tight for he
| existence. shall. for the sake Of ueutra
| interest. restrict the use of an eftectiv'
weapon IL her enemy is permitted T.
continue to apply at will methods Of war
fare violating the rules of internationa
, law. Such demand would he lncom
patble with the character of neutrality
and the German government is convince
that tho government Of the United state
does not think Of making such demand
knowing that the government Of tn
United States has repeatedly declare
that it is determined to restore the prin
ciple Of the freedom Of the seas. from
whatever quarter it has been violated
To this the government of the Unite,
States replied on the Sth of May accent
ing. of course, the assurance given, bu
adding:
The government of the United state
feels il necessary to state that it take
II for granted that the imperial German
government does not intend to InpI
that the maintenance Of its newly an
nounccd policy is in any way contingen
upon the course or result Of diplomat
negotiations between tho government %
tho United states and any otho
bclliCerent government. MISUNDERSTANDING
the fact that certain Passages III the I'M
portal governments note of the ith inst
might appear To be susceptible of tina
L., 81 n a