The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-02-09
PRESIDENT Tells CONGRESS WHY
We HAVE BROKEN WITH GERMANY

Responsibility In such matters Is
single. not joint; absolute. not rela.
tive
ITO this note OF the eighth Of May
the imperial German government made
no reply. On the thirty-hrSt OF Janu
airy, the Wednesday OF the present
week. the German ambassador handed
10 the secretary OF state along with .
formal note, memorandum whic,
contains the following statements:
THE imperial government. there
fore, does not doubt thar the govern
stand The situation thus forced upon
Germany by the entente allies brutal
methods Of war and by their determina-
tion 10 destroy the central powers. and
that the government of the United
states will further realize that the
now openly disclosed intentions of the
entente allies give back to Germany
the freedom OF action which she re-
served 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 forcihly preventing
after February I. 1917, Ia n zone
around Great Britain. France. Italy
and I'm the eastern Mediterranean all
navigation. that of neutralS Included.
from and 10 England and from and Ia
France, etc. etc. All ships met within
the zone viii he sunk
~ think that you viii agree with me
that. I'm view Of this declaration. which
suddenly and without prior mtimntion
of any kind deliberately withdraws
the solemn assurance given In the Inn
perial governments note of the fourth
Of May, 1916. this government has no
alternative consistent with the dignity
and honor Of the United States. hut 10
take the course which I'm its note of
the eighteenth OF April. 1916. IL an
nounced that " would take I'm the
event that the German government did
not declare and effect nm abandonment
Of the methods OF submarine warfare
which II was then employing and 10
''''' - ''' pun fNH'H hkhih w
sort.
81 have, therefore, directed the sec
retary Of state To announce 10 his ex-
celleucy the German ambassador that
all diplomatic relations between the
United States and the German empire
are severed and that the American am.
hassador M Berlin will be Immediately
A.
this decision TO hand to his excellency
his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German government.
this sudden and deeply dcplorcd re-.
nunciation OF its assurances, given
this government az one OF the most
critical moments of tension I'm the re-
lations of the two governments. re-
fuse 10 believe that II is the intention
of the German authorities TO do I'm
fact what they have warned us they
will feel at liberty 10 do. cannot
bring myself 10 believe that they will
indeed pay no regard TO The ANCIENT
friendship between their people and
our own or 10 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 the ruth
less naval program they have an-
nourred their intention TO adopt. Only
actual overt acts on their part can
make me believe II even now.
"If this lnveterate confidence on my
part I'm the sobriety and prudent fore.
sight of their purpose should unhapply
prove unfounded; II American ships
and AmericaU lives should in fact be
sacrificed by their naval commanders
in Needless contrnvention of the Just
and reasonable Understandings Of in
ternatioual law and the obviOus die
tates ~ humanity. shall take the llb-
erty OF coming again before the con
gress, 10 ask that authority be- given
me 10 use any means that may be nee
essary for protection OF our se8men
and our people IN the prosecution of
their peaceful and legitimate errands
on The high seas. | can do nothing
less. ! take IL for granted that all
neutral governments Will take the same
course.
I'VE do not desire any hostile con
fllct with the imperial German govern
ment. We nre the sincere friends Of
the German people and earnestly de-
sire 10 remain at peace with the gov
ernmcut which speaks for them. We
shall not believe that they are hostile
10 us unless and until We are obliged
10 believe II, and we purpose nothing
more than the reasonable defense OF
the undoubted rights OF our people
We wish 10 serve no selfish ends. We
seek merely 10 stand true alike IN
thought and In action. 90 the iinmc-
mortal principles Of our people which
sought 10 express In my address 10
the senate only two weeks agO-seck
merely % vindicate our right 30 liberty
aud an unmOlested life. These are
the bases OF peace. not war. Grant |
that We shall not be- challenged 10 dc. /
fend them by acts Of wilful Injustice /