River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-02-08
Wilson In Address to
Congress Calls on All
Neutrals to Aid u. s.

son in his address to congress on the
crisis with Germany spoke as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
"The imperial German government
on the 31st day of January announced
to this government and to the govern
ments of the other neutral nations that
on and after the 1st day of February
the present month, it would adopt a
policy with regard to the use of sub
marines against all shipping seeking
to pass through certain designated
areas of the high seas, to which it is
clearly my duty to call your atten-
ton.
Let me remind the Congress that
on the 8th day of April last, in view of
the sinking on the oath of March of
the cross-channel passenger steamer
Sussex by German submarine, with
out summons or warning and the con-
sequent loss of lives Of several citi-
zens of the United States who were
passengers aboard her, this govern
ment addressed note to the imperial
German government in which it made
the following declaration:
Reviews Sussex Case.
If it is still the purpose of the
imperial government to prosecute re-
lentless and indiscriminate 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
It'd HI % s-n4~
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 Immediately
declare and effect an abandonment Of
its present methods of submarine war
fare against passenger and freight-car-
rying vessels, the government Of the
United States can have no choice but
to sever diplomatic relations with the
German empire altogether
Gave Assurances to u. S.
I'm reply to the declaration the i'm
perial German government gave this
government the following assurances:
The German government is prepared
to do it's utmost to confine the opera
lions of war for the rest of it's dura-
ton to the fighting forces of belliger-
ents, thereby also insuring the freedom
OF the seas, a principle upon which the
German government believes now, as
before, to be in agreement with the
government of the United tSates.
1.-The German government, guided
by this idea, notifies the government
of the United States that the German
naval forces have received the follow.
ing orders: In accordance with the
general principles of visit and search
and destruction of merchant vessels
recognized by international law such
vessels, both within and without the
area declared naval war zone, shall
not be sunk without warning and with
out saving human lives, unless these
ships attempt to escape or offer resist
ance.
Germany's Statement.
But it added, 'neutrals cannot ex-
pect that Germany, forced to fight for
her existence, shall for the sake of
neutral interests restrict the use of an
effective weapon if her enemy is per-
mitted to continue to apply at will
methods of warfare violating the rules
of international law Such demand
would be incompatible with the char
acter of neutrality and the German
government is convinced that the gov
eminent of the United States does not
think of making such demand, know
ing that the government of the United
States has repeatedly declared that it
is determined to restore the principle
of the freedom of the seas, from what
ever quarter it has been violated
Accepts Assurances.
'To this the government of the
United States replied on the 9Th of
May, accepting, of course, the assur-
ances given, but adding:
The government Of the United
States feels it necessary to state that
it takes its for granted that the i'm
perial German government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
of it's newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course or re-
suit of diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the government of the United
States and any other belligerent gov
eminent, Notwithstanding the fact that
certain passages in the imperial gov
ernment's note of the 4th instant might
appear to be susceptible Of that con-
struction.
In order, however, to avoid any
Misunderstanding the government of
the United States notifies the imperial
government that it cannot for a mo-
ment entertain, much less discuss,
suggestion that respect by German ma
val authorities for the rights of citi-
zens 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 govern
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Pays Tribute to American Navy.
Paris, Feb. 5.-Rear Admiral Deg