The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-09-06

This was the direct challenge
There was no possible answer exoep.
to hand their Ambassador MIA pass.
ports and so have done with a dip
lomatic correspondence which had
been violated from the starr by the
often proved bad faith OF tho Imperial
Government.
On the same day. February Q, 1917
tha President addressed both Houses
OF ours Congress and announced the
complete severance OF our relations
with Germany. The reluctance with
which he took this step was evident in
every word. 3 Hut diplomacy had
failed, and Il would have been the
hollowest promise to maintain rela-
tions. Al the same time. however. he
made Il plain he did not regard this
act as tantamount TO n declaration
OF war Here for tho first time the
President made his sharp distinction
between government and people I'm
undemooratlc lands:
We are the sincere friends OF the
German people," he said. "and earn
estly desire TO remain at peace with
the government which speaks for
them. God grant we may
not be challenged by acts OF wilful In
justice on the part OF the Govern.
ment OF Germany"
In this address OF the President.
and In its Endorsement by the Senate.
there was a solemn warning: for We
still had hope that the German Gov
ernment might hesitate 10 drive us 10
war. But Il was soon evident that
our warning had fallen on deaf ears.
The tortuous ways and means OF Ger
man official diplomacy were clearly !
shown In the negotiations opened by
them through the Swiss legation ON
the 10Th OF February. In no word OF
their proposals did the German Gov
ernment meet the real Issue between
as And our State Department repli-
ed that no minor negotiations could
be entertained until the main issue
had been met by the withdrawal Of
the submarine order.
BY the last OF March Il had become
plain that the Imperial Government.
by the warning In the
address TO Congress- on
February 3, was determined TO make ,
good It's threat. The President then
lgain appeared before Congress 10 re-
'ort the development OF the crisis and =
O ask the rrproval ofthe Representa- I
ives OF the Nation for the course OF |
Irmed neutrality upon which. under 1
lis constitutional authority. he had h
low determined. More than 500 OF a
he s3l members OF the two Houses "
Z Congress showed themselves ready h
nd anxious TO act; and the Armed r.
'eulrality Declaration would hava G.
cen accepted II II lad not been for o
he legal death Of the s.Nty-fourth
ongress on March n
No overt" act. however. was or
cred by our Government until Count
ernstoff had reached Berlin and Mr.. X
erard was in Washington. For the &C
erman ambassador on his departure J.
ad begged that no irrevoeabIe deeis- al
IN should be taken until he had the n
nance to make one final plea for ec
sace to his sovereign. We do not III
now the nature OF his report to the az
aisar; we know only that even II "
. kept his pledge and. urged an IN
eventh-hour reyoestion OF the sub 70
arlne order. he was unable to sway
Ie policy OF the Imperial Govern
eni.
And SO. having exhausted every re-
'nrce OF patience. OF patience. our N
evernmeRt on the 18th OF March
nalIy issued orders 20 place armed
lards on our merchant ships. Al
with the dennite break in diplo- In
attic relations there vanished the on
st yestise OF cordiality toward the te
OF Germany. Our attitude N,
is now to change. So long as ne PI
d maintained strict neutrality In TO