Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-02-09

knowing that the Government of the
United States has repeatedly declared
that it is determined to restore the
principle of the freedom of the seas.
from whatever quarter it has been vio-
ted
ITO this the Government of the
United States replied on the eighth OF
May, accepting, of course, the assur-
ances given, but adding:
The Government of the United
States feels it necessary to state that
il takes it for granted that the I'M
perial German Government does not
intend to imply that the maintenance
of its newly announced policy is in any
way contingent upon the course or re-
suit of diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the Government of the United
States and any other belligerent Gov
eminent, Notwithstanding the fact
that certain passages in the Imperial
Governments note of the fourth in
slant might appear to be susceptible
of that construction. In order, how
ever. to avoid any misunderstanding
the Government of the United States
notifies the Imperial Government that
it can not for a moment entertain,
much less discuss. a suggestion that
respect by German naval authorities
for the rights of citizens of the United
States upon the high seas should in
any way or in the slightest degree be
made contingent upon the conduct of
any other Government, affecting the
! rights of neutrals and noncombatants
| Responsibility in such matters is sim
gle, not joint. absolute, not relative
No Reply From Germany.
| ITO this note of the eighth of May
the Imperial German Government
made no reply.
''On the thirty-first of January, the
Wednesday of the present week. the
German Ambassador handed to the
Secretary of State, along with formal
note memorandum which contained
the following statement:
"'The Imperial Government, there
fore, does not doubt that the Govern
ment of the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the Entente Allies brutal
methods of war, and by their determi-
nation to destroy the Central Powers.
and that the Government of the Uni
ted States will further realize that the
now openly disclosed intention of the
Entente Allies gives 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 forcibly preventing
after February l, 1917, in a zone
around Great Britain. France, Italy
and in the Eastern Mediterranean all
navigation, that of neutrals included
from and to England and from and to
France. etc. All ships met within the
zone will be sunk
No Alternative Left Open.
81 think that you will agree with me
that. in view of this declaration, which
suddenly and without prior intimatior
of any kind deliberately withdrew the
solemn assurances given in the I'm
perial Governments note of the 4th o.
May, 1916, this Government has NJ
alternative consistent with the dignity
and honor of the United States bu
to take the course which, in it's note
of the 18th of April, 1916, it announced
that it would take in the event tha
the German Government did not de
clare and effect an abandonment o.
the methods of submarine warfare
! which it was then employing and tt
which it now purposes again to re
sort.
"I have, therefore, directed the Sec
rotary of State to announce to His
Excellency the German Ambassador
that all diplomatic relations between
the United States and the German EN-
lean Ambassador at Berlin will i'm
mediately be withdrawn and, in &C
cordance with this decision, to hand t.
His Excellency his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German Government, thi!
sudden and deeply deplorable renun
citation of it's assurances. given thi
. Government at one of the most critica
! moments of tension in the relations o
, the two Governments. | refuse to be
5 lieve that it is the intention of tn
/, German authorities to do in fact wha