The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-02-09


lie reasons watch led him 10 order
the diplomatic break With 0srmany.
ms address was N follow:
TO the congress. February q mt.
0enflemen Of the Congress:
The Imperial German government
on the 8lst Of January announced to
this government and to the govern
ments Of the other neutral nations
that on and after the La day Of Febru-
ary. the present month. Il would adopt
o policy with regard to the use OF
submarines against all shipping seek.
ing to pass through certain designated
areas Of the high seas to which Il ID
clearly my duty to cnll your attention.
'.Let me remind the congress that
On the 18th Of April last. In view Of
the sinking on the 24th Of March OF
the cross Channel passenger steamer
eussex BY q German submarine. with
ont summons or warning. and the con-
sequent loss Of the lives OF several
citizens Of the United States. who
were passengers aboard her, this gov
eminent addressed q note to the I'm
perial German government IN which II
made the following declarations:
If Il still be the purpose Of the i'm
periaI government to prosecute relent-
less and indiscriminate warfare
against vessels Of commerce by the
use Of submarines without regard to
what the government OF the United
0tntes must consider the sacred and
indIsputable rules OF international law
and the universally recognized die
-tntes " humanity. the government OF
the United States Is Mt last forced to
the conclusion that there ID but one
course II can pursue. Unless the Inn
perinl government should now and i'm
mediately declare and effect an aban-
donment Of Its present methods Of
submarine warfare against passenger
and freight carrying vessels. the gov
eminent Of the United States can have
: no choice but to sever diplomatic re-
1ations with the German empire alto
gether.'
''Tn reply to this declaration the i'm.
periai German government give this
government the following assurance:
The German government IL pre-
pared to do It's utmost to confine the
operations Of the war for the rest OF
Its duration to the fighting forces Of
the bellIgerents, thereby also assuring
the freedom of the seas, principle
upon which the German government
believes. now AZ before. to be In agree
ment with the government Of the
United States.
"The German government, guided
BY this Idea, notifies the government
Of the United States that the German
naval forces have received the follow
ing orders: In accordance with the
general principles of visit and search
and destruction Of merchant vessels
recognized BY international law, such
vessels. both within and without the
area declared as naval war zone.
declared as naval war zone. shall not
be sunk without warning and without
saving human lives, unless these ships
attempt to escape or offer resistance.
But It added. 'neutrals cannot
expect that Germany, forced to fight
for her existence. shall. for the sake Of
neutral interests. restrict the use of an
effective weapon II her enemy Ii per
United to continue to apply at will
methods Of warfare violating the rules
OF International law. Such demand
would be Incompatible with the char
acter Of neutrality. and the German
government 10 convinced, that the gov
eminent. Of the United States does not
think Of making such a demand.
knowing that the government Of the
United States has repeatedly declared
that It 10 determined to restore the
principle OF the freedom Of the seas,
from whatever quarter It has been vio-
lated
ITO this the government Of the Unit
ed States replied ON the eighth Of May,
accepting. of course. the assurance CIV
en-. but adding:
The government Of the United
states feels 1t necessary to state that
1t takes 1t for granted that the Inn
perial German government does not
intend 1t to imply that the maintenance
OF its newly announced policy is In any
way contingent upon the course Of re-
suits Of diplomatic, negotiations be-
tween the government Of the United
) 6tatc8 onu USAhBCtCAs SONSAh-
ments. notwithstanding the fact that
certain passages In the imperial gov
efnments note Of the fourth instant
might appear to be susceptible Of that
construction. In order, however, to
avoid any possible misunderstanding.
the government OF the United States
notifies the imperial government that
n cannot for n mOmpnt pnterfain
much less discuss, suggestion that
respect by German naval authorities
for the rights OF citizens Of the United
States upon the high sens should In
any way In the slightest degree be
made contingent upon the conduct OF
any other government affecting the
rights of neutrals and nonconbatants.
People Of Canary lslands Suffer.