Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-03
Wilson Tells
Congress Why
Break Came

Washington, Feb. 8. Addressing
joint session regarding the break with
Germany the president spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of congress: The i'm
perial German government on the 81 st
Of January announced that on and
after the 1st of February it would
adopt policy with regard to the use
Of submarines against all shipping
seeking to pass thru certain desig-
mated areas Of the high seas, to which
it is clearly my, duty to call your
attention. Let me remind congress
that on the sth Of April last, in view
of the sinking of the cross channel
steamer Sussex by a German sub
marine without warning and the con-
sequent loss of lives of several citi-
zens of the United States who were
passengers aboard her, this govern
ment made the following declaration:
If it still is the purpose Of the
German government to prosecute
relentless and ind;scr!minate war
fare against vessels of commerce
without regard to what the United
States must consider the sacred
rules Of international lsw, the
government of the United States
must be at last forced to the con-
clusion there is but one course to
pursue. Unless the imperial gov
eminent should effect an abandon
ment of the present methods of
submarine warfaresthe government
Of the United States can have no
choice but to sever diplomatic sre-
lations With the German empire
altogether.
Germany Made Promises.
sTn reply to the declaration, the i'm
perial German government gave this
the following assurances:
The German government notiS
fies the government of the United
States that the German naval
forces have received orders as fol-
lows: In accordance with the
general principles of visit and
search, destruction 4 OF of@rlserchant.
& vessels recognized by intern ational
IA ". s;ch vesseSs, bVth, within aad
& without the raFali war Zone, shall
y not be sunk without warning and
without saving human lives un-
less ships attempt to escape or
offer resistance.
Promise IL Accepted.
: ITO this the government of the
United states replied on the Sth OF
May, accepting of course the assur-
ances given. but adding:
s4l nf ia
states feels it necessary to state
that it takes it for granted that the
Imperial German government does
not intend to imply that the new
ly announced policy is in any way
contingent on the course of the
result of diplomatic negotiations
between the president of the
United States and any other bell
ligerent government, notwithstand-
ing that the German note might
appear susceptible of that inter
probation.
The government of the United
States notifies the imperial Ger
man government that it can not
entertain, much less discuss, a
suggestion that respect by Ger
man naval authorities for the
rights of citizens Of the United
States upon the high seas should
in any way in the slightest degree
be made contingent upon the ac-
ton Of any other country.
The rights are absolute, not
relative
"To this note Of the sth of May the
imperial German government made nc
reply.
Repudiates Assurances.
"On the 31st of January, the We'd
nesday of the present week, the Ger
man ambassador handed to the secre-
tary of state along with note, a
which contained the fol.
lowing statement:
".The imperial German govern
ment, therefore, does not doubt
that the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced
upon Germany by the entente al
lies brutal methods of war and by
their determination to destroy the
central powers and that the gov
ernment Of the Unied States will
further realize that the now openly
q, disclosed intention of the entente
allies gives back to Germany the
freedom of action which she re-
ferred to in her message to the
United States on May 8. 1916.
~.Under these circumstances
Germany will meet these meas
.ures of her enemies by enforc-
ing in a zone around Great Brit
ain, France, italy and in the east
q ern Mediterranean, that of neu-
trails included, all navigation to
and from England and to and
from France, ETC., ETC.
II think you will agree with me tha
in view OF this declaration deliberatel!
withdrawing the assurance given II
the imperial governments note Of MAJ
8, 1915, this government has no alter
native but to take the, course which 1,
its note Of Aprib1S, 1916, it announce,
that it would take. in the event tina
zfha5 5E4rn,an-eavernme t1id@la or ne
clare and effect an abandonment Of tn
methods OF submarine warfare whicl
II was then employing and to which /
now proposes again to resort.
Sewers Relations.
.ts. 81 have therefore directed the secre
.tary os& state to announce to his excel
Continued on Page 12) :ss: &ss
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