The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-02-10

. Of congress. told his reasons for break
ing of diplomatic negotiations with
Germany. He said:
To the congress. February 3, 1917.
Gentlemen of the Congress:
The Imperial German government
on III" &l>t of January announced to
this government and 10 the govern
mrntS of the other neutral nations
that on ana after the 1St day of Fehru-
AIRY, the present month. il would adopt
Il policy with regard Ia IN" us" of
submarines against all shipping seek
'nS 10 pass through certain -uHt"d
areas of the high seas 10 which il is
clearly my duty To call your attention.
Let mo remind the congress that
on III" 18Th Of April last. in view of
me sinking on IN" 9th of March of
IN" cross Channel passenger steamer
SUSSEX 10y Il German submarine. with
out summons or warming and the con
>"qu"nt loss Of the lives Of several
citizens Of the United States. who
We're passengers aboard her. this gov
eminent addressed note to the In
p"rial German government in which il
made the following declarations:
If il still be- the purpose of the i'm
perial government to prosecute rclent-
less and indiScriminate warfare
against vessels of commerce nv the
Us" of submarines without regard 10
what the government of the United
States must consider the sacred and
lndlSputahle rules Of international law
ana tn" universally recognized die
tatcS of humanity. the government of
the United States is ar last forced 10
the conclusion that there is hut one
course ii can pursue Unless the i'm
perlal government should now and i'm
mediately declare and effect an ahan-
d"nm"nt of its present methods of
submarine warfare against passenger
anu freight carrying vessels. the COY
eminent of the United States can have
n" ch"ic" but 10 sever diplomatic re-
lati"nS with the German empire alto
gcthor.'
"In reply 10 this declaration the i'm
perial German government gave this
government the following assurance:
THE German government is pre-
pared 10 do its utmost 10 c0nfinc the
operations of the war for the rest of /
IFS duration Ia the fighting forces of .
the belliGerontS, thereby also assuring /
the freedom of the seas. principle /
upon which the German government /
believes. now as before. to be in agree
ment with the government OF the
United States.
1.-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
principles Of visit and search
and destruction of merchant vessels
by international law, such
vessels, both within and without the
area declared as naval war zone,
declared as naval war zone, shall not
De sunk without warning and without
saving human lives, unless these ShipS
''N'''fN W NHNhl'C vi plltI resistance. !
But it added. 'neutrals cannot
Expect that Germany, forced to fight
or her existence, shall, for the sake of
leutral interests, restrict the use of an
Effective weapon if her enemy is per
nltted to continue to apply at will |
Methods of warfare violating the rules
# international law. Such a demand
would be Incompatible with the char
cter of neutrality, and the German
government is convinced that the gov
rnment of the United States does NOT
hink of making such demand
moving that the government of the
.nited States has repeatedly declared
hat ii is determined to restore the
rlnciple of the freedom of the seas.
rom whatever quarter it has been vio-
lted.'
To this the government of the Unit
States replied on the eighth of MAY,
ccepting, of course, the assurance Civ
n, but adding:
The government of the United !
tates feels it necessary to state that
takes it for granted that the i'm ,
arial German government does not
tend ii to imply that the maintenance
its newly announced policy is in any
ay contingent upon the course of re- a..
Its of diplomatic negotiations be- .
Ieen the government of the United
ates and other belligerent govern .
entS, Notwithstanding the fact that :,
rtain passages in the imperial gov :,
note of the fourth instant :,
light appear to be susceptible of that !,
instruction. In order, however. TO Il,
'oid any possible MISUNDERSTANDING, g
e government of the United States q
'tfes the imperial government that ~
cannot for q moment entertain. T
UGH less discuss, a suggestion that :,
Spect by German naval authorities ~
r the rights of citizens of the United n
ates upon the high seas should i'm ;,
y way in the slightest degree be n
Ide contingent upon the conduct of f,
y other government affecting the q
,htS of neutrals and nOncombatants. m
Torpedo Boat Goals.