Evening journal., 1917-02-03

ment Of the United States viii under
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the Entente Allies brut- /
al methods of war and by their de-
termination to destroy the Central
Powers and that the government OF
the United States will further real
ize that the now openly disclosed In
tention s of OF the Allied Govern
ments is denied to Germany the
freedom which she reserved in her
note addressed to the government OF
the United States on May 4. 1916.
Under these circumstances Ger
many will meet the illegal measures
of her enemies by foroibly preventing
after February 1, 1917 in a zone
around Great Britain France, Italy
and the Eastern Mediterranean Ill
navigation, that Of neutrals included,
from and to England and from and
to France, ETC. All ships met within
the zone will be sunk.
Il think that you will agree with
me. that If I'm view OF this declaia-
ton, which suddenly and without
prior intimation Of any kind DELHI
erately withdraws the solemn assur-
ance given in the Imperial Govern
ment's note OF the fourth of May, 1916,
that this government has no alterna-
tive, consistent with the dignity and
honor Of the United States, but to
take the course which, in its note OF
the eighteenth of April, 1915, it an
nounced that it would take In the
event that the German Government
did not declare and effect an aban-
donment of the methods of submarine
warfare, which Il was then employ
ing and to which it now purposes
again to resort.
q have, therefore, directed the secre-
tary of State to announce to his excel
lency, the German Ambassador, that all
| diplomatic relations between the United
States and the German Empire are sew
cred, and that American Ambassador at
| Berlin will Immediately be withdrawn,
and In accordance with this decision, TO
hand 60 his exeellency his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected ac-
ton of the German Government this sud
den and deeply deplorable remuneration
Of this assurance, given this government
at one Of the most critical moments of
tension in the relations Of the two govern
ments, I refuse 70 believe that It Is the
intention Of tho German authorities ia
do in fact what they have warned us
they will feel at liberty TO do. I cannot
bring myself 70 believe that they will IN.
deed pay no regard 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 wilfu
prosecution of the ruthless naval prob
lem they have announced their intention
60 adopt Only actual overt acts OF
their part can make me believe it ever
now.
"If this confidence on my part in
the sobriety and prudent foresight Of
their purpose should unhapply prove
unfounded II American ships and
American lives should be sacrificed
by their naval commanders in heed
less contraventiOn of the Just and
reasonable understandings of inter
national laws and then the obvious
dictates Of humanity, I shall take the
liberty Of coming again before the
Congress, TO ask that authority be
given me to use any means that may
be necessary for the protection OF ouI
seamen and our people in the
prosecution Of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas
I can do nothing less. take II FOL
granted that all neutral governments
| will take the same course.
I'VE do not desire any hostile cor
fiiet with the Imperial German Gov
eminent. We are the sincere friend
OF the German people and earnestl
desire to remain at peace with tn
government which speaks for them
We shall not believe that they ar
hostile to us unless and until we ar
obliged to believe II; and we purpos
nothing more than the reasonable de
Tense OF the undoubted rights OF on
people We wish to serve no selfisl
ends. We seek merely to stand tru
alike in thought and in action to tn
immemorial principles Of our peopl
which I sought to express in my ad
dress to the Senate only two week
ago-seek merely to vindicate on
right to liberty and justice and al
unmolested life.
These are the basis of peace, no
hwar. God grant we may not be chal
llenged to defend them by acts OF VII
full injustice on the part of the gov
eminent Of Germany