The border vidette., 1917-02-10
CONGRESS HEARS PRESIDENT.
Head of Nation Tells Why U. $. Breaks
 With Germany.

| nounced to the country and the world that diplomatic relations with Germany had been severed. Silent and attentive the na | tion'S lawmakers listened with rapt attention while President | Wilson told of Americas course in the now unsuccessful diDlo- matic struggle to dissuade Ger many from her campaign of ruthleSSnesS.
 The President spoke as fol | lows:
 Gentlemen of the Congress:
 "The imperial German gov l ernment on the 31st of January 1 announced to this government and to the governments of the other neutral nations, that on and after the 1st day of Febru- ! ary, the present month, it would adopt policy with regard to the use of submarines against all shipping seeking to pass through certain areas of the high seas to which it is clearly my duty to call your attention.
 ''Let me remind the congress on the 9th of April last, in view of the sinking on the 24th of | March, of the cross channel pas senger steamer Sussex by Ger man submarine without summons or warning, and the consequent 1 less of the lives of several citi zens of the United States who were passengers aboard her, this government addressed a note to the imperial German government | in which it made the following declaration: If if is still the purpose of l the imperial government to pro- secute relentless and indiscrlm mate warfare against vessels of commerce by the use of subma- rines without regard to what the government of the United States | must consider the sacred and uu- disputab ble rules of internal tlonal law and the universally recog- nized dictates of humanity, the government of the United States | is at last forced to the conclu- sion that there is but one course it can pursue. Unless the inn perial government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of it's present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels, the govern ment of the United States can have no choice but to sever di- plomatic relations with the Ger man empire altogether.
 ''In reply to the declaration, the imperial German government gave this government the fol lowing assurances:
 The German government IS prepared to do it's utmost to con- fine the operations of war for the rest of it's duration to the fighting forces of the belliger- ents, thereby also insuring the freedom of the seas, a principle upon which the German govern ment believes now, as before, to be in agreement with the gov ernment of the United States
 |" The German government, guided by this idea, notifies the l government of the United States that the German naval forces have received the following or ders: 'In' accordance with the general principles of visit and search and destruction of mer- chant vessels recognized by in ternational law, such vessels, both within and without the area declared a naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human lives, unless these ships attempt to escape or offer resistance.
 But it added, 'neutrals can not expect that Germany, forced to fight for existence, shall for the sake of neutrals' interest re- strict the use of an effective weapon if her enemy is permit ted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating the rules of international law. Such a demand would be incompatible with the character of neutrality and the German government IS convinced that the government of the United States does not think of making such a demand knowing that the government of the United States has repeatedly declared that it is determined tc restore the principle of the free
 dom of the seas, from whatever | ~,,ortoY, if has bopp violated