The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06

United States notifies the Imperial
Government that it cannot for a mo-
ment entertain, much less discuss, the
suggestion by the naval authorities
that their rights OF citizens of the
United States upon high seas should
in any way OF in the slightest degree
be made contingent upon conduct of
any otner government affecting the
right of neutrals and non-com batants.
Responsibility in such matters is sin
gle not joint; absolute, not relative"
ITO this note of the eighth of May
the Imperial German Government
made no reply.
Germany's Latest Stand.
'On the thirty-frst of January,
Wednesday of the present week, the
German ambassador handed to the
Secretary Of State, along with for
NAL note, memorandum which con-
tanned the following statement:
1.-The Imperial Government, there
fore, does not doubt that the Govern
ment Of the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the Entente Allies bru-
tai method of war and by their de-
termination to destroy the Central
Powers, and the government will fur-
ther realize now that the openly dis
closed intention of the Allies gives
back to Germany the freedom of the
action which she reserved in her note
addressed to the Government of the
United States on May 4, 1916.
Under the circumstances Germany
will meet the illegal measures of her
enemies by forcibly preventing after
February 1, 1917, in zone aroun1
Great Britain, France, Italy and in the
Eastern Mediterranean all navigation,
neutrals included, to and from Eng
land, to and from France, etc. Al!
ships met within the zone, will ra
sunk
81 think you Will agree with me-
in view of this declaration, which sua-
denly and without prior intimation Of
any kind deliberately withdraws the
solemn assurance given in the Impe-
rial Governments note of the fourth
of May, 1916, this government has no
alternative consistent with the dignl-
ty and honor of the United States 5uc
to take the course which, it in it's note
of the 18th Of April, 1915, it announc-
ed 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 re-
sort.
Relations Severed.
'I have, therefore, directed the Sec
retary Of State to announce to his
Excellency, the German ambassador,
that all diplomatic relations between
the United States and the German Emu
pire are severed and that the Amer1-
can ambassador at Berlin, immediate.
ly will be withdrawn, and in accord
ance to this decision to hand to bis
Excellency his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German Government, this
sudden and deeply deplorable renum-
citation of its assurances, given this
government at one of it's most critical
moments Of tension in the relations
OF the two governments. 1 refuse to
believe that it is the intention OF the
German authorities to do in fact what
they have warned US they will feel
at liberty to do. l cannot bring my
self to believe that they will indeed
pay no regard to the ancient friend
ship between their people and our own
or to the solemn obligations when
have been exchanged between them
and destroy american ships and take
the lives of American citizens in the
willful prosecution of the ruthless
naval program they have announced
their intention to adopt Only over.
acts upon their part can make me be-
lieye 1t even now.
Should the Worst Happen.
''If the inveterate confidence on my
part in the sobriety and prudent fore
sight Of their purpose should unhap-
PLY prove unfounded; if American
ships and American lives in fact be
sacrificed by their naval commanders
in needless contravention of the just
and reasonable understanding of the
law and the obvious die
tates OF humanity, I shall take the
liberty OF coming again before the
congress to ask that authority be
given me to use any mea that may
be necessary for the protection Of our
seaUen and people in the prosecution
of their peaceful and legitimate e.
rands on tic H@h seas. can do no,A-
ing less. I take it for granted that
all neut'o' governments will take the
same course.
"'We do OF desire a hostile conflict
with the Imperial German Govern
ment We are the sincere friends Of
the Germon reople and earnestly de-
sire to remoin at peace with the gov
ernment v-f'oh sueaks for them. We