Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-02-09

sistent with the dignity and honor OF the
United States but to take the course which,
in its note of the 18th Of April. 1915. it
announced that it would take in the event
that the German Government did not de-
clare and effect an abandonment Of the
methods Of submarine warfare which it
was then employing and to which it now
purposes again to resort
Il have, therefore. directed the Secretary
of State to announce to his ExceIlency the
German Ambassador that all diplomatic
relations between the United States and
the German Empire are severed and that
the American Ambassador at Berlin will
Immediately be Withdrawn: and. in ac-
cordance with this decision. to hand to his
Excellency his passports.
notwithstanding this unexpected action
of the German Government. this sudden
and deeply deplorable remuneration Of its
assurances, given this Government at one
of the most critical moments Of tension in
the relations Of the two governments, re-
fuse to believe that II is the intention Of
the German authorities to do in fact what
they have warned US they will feel at
liberty to do. ! cannot bring myself to
believe that they will, indeed. pay no re-
gard to the ancient friendship between
their people and our own or to the solemn
obligations which have been exchanged
between them. and destroy American ships
and take the lives of American citizens in
the willful prosecution Of theTuthless naval
program they have announced their inten-
ton to adopt. Only actual overt acts on
their part can make me believe II even
now.
IF this inveterate confidence on my
part in the sobriety and prudent foresight
Of their purpose should unhappily prove
unfounded: if American ships and Ameri-
can lives should in fact be sacrificed by
their naval commanders in needless con-
travention Of the just and reasonable un.
derstandings of international law and the
obvious dictates of humanity. shall take
the liberty of coming again before the
Congress to ask that authority be given
me to use any means that may be neces.
sary for the protection Of our seamen and
our people in the prosecution Of theiI
peaceful and legitimate errands on the
high seas. | can do nothing less. take
it for granted that all neutral governments
will take the same course.
I'VE do not desire any hostile conflict
with the Imperial German Government
We are the sincere friends Of the German
people. and earnestly desire to remain al
peace with the Government which speaks
for them. We shall not believe that they
are hostile to US unless and until we are
Obliged to believe il, and we purpose moth.
ing more than the reasonable defense Of
the undoubted rights Of our people. We
wish to serve no selfish ends. We seek
merely to stand true alike in thought and in
action to the immemorial principles Of ouI
people which have sought to express in
my address to the Senate only two weeks
aeo-seek merely to vindicate our right tc
liberty and justice and an unmolested life
These are the bases of peace. not war
God grant that we may not be challenged
todefend them by acts Of willful injustice or
the part Of the Government Of Germany.
Passports have been handed to Counl
Won Bernstorff; Ambassador Gerard with
all his staff and all American consuIs hav,
been ordered out Of Germany. All Ger
man consuls in the United States are ex
pected to withdraw. that the severance o
relations may be complete. American
diplomatic interests in Berlin have beer
turned over to Spain German diplomatic
interests in the United States have beer
taken over by Switzerland. Foreign dip
lomatic interests which the United Statei
had in charge in Germany have beer
turned over to vsrious neutrals.