The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-02-08
PRESIDENT WILSON'S
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
Wilson's Address to Joint Session of Con-
eress Announcing Severance Of Diplo-
matte Relations With Germany.

Following is the full text Of Pres
ident Wilson's address to joint ses-
sion of Congress last Saturday after
noon announcing severance of diplo-
matte relations with Germany:
"Gentlemen of the Congress:
"The imperial German government
on the 31st day of January announc-
ed to this government and to the
governments of the other neutral ma
tons that on and after the first day
Of February, the present month. it
would adopt a policy with regard
to the use of submarines against all
shipping seeking to pass through
certain designated areas of the high
seas to which it is clearly my duty
to call your attention. Let me re-
mind the Congress On the eighth OF
April last, in view of the sinking on
the .wentv-fc-rth O. t.rt:1 of the
cross-channel passenger steamer Sus-
sex by a German submarine, without
summons or warning, and the conse-
quent loss of the lives of several cit,
liens of the United States who were
passengers aboard her, this govern
ment addressed note to the '71-
perial German government in which
it made the following declaration:
Warning Following Sussex Incident
"If it is still the purpose of the
imperial government to prosecute re-
lentless ard indiscriminate warfare
against vessels of commerce by the
use of submarines without regard to
what the government Of the United
States must consider the sacred and
indisputable rules of international
law and the universally recognized
dictates of humanity, the government
of the United States is at last fore
ed to the conclusion that there is but
one course it can pursue. Unless the
imperial German government should
now Immediately declare and effect
an abandonment of its present meth
DDS of submarine warfare against pas
senger ard freight-carrying vessels,
the government of the United States
can have no choice but to sever diplo.
matte relations with the German en-
pire altogether"
Germany's Assurance
'"r reply to this declaration, the
in'Fer'al German gove1nrnen gave
this government the following asslr-
synte:
"'The German government is pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine the
operations of war for the rest of it's
duration to the fighting forces of
the belligerent3, thereby also insur-
ing the freedom Of the seas, a rrin-
ciple upon which the German gov
eminent believes now, as before, to
be in agreement with the government
of the United States.
1.-The German government guild
ed by this idea, notifies the govern
ment of the United States that the
German naval forces have received
the following orders:
"1n accordance with the general
principles of visit and search and
destruction of merchant vessels, rec
ognized by international law, and
vessels both within and without the
area declared as naval war zone
shall not be sunk without warning
and without saving human lives, IN
less these ships attempt to escape OF
offer resistance.
"'But.' it added. "neutrals cannot
expect Germany, forced to fight fo1
her existence, shall, for the sake OF
neutral interest, restrict the use OF
an effective weapon if her enemy is
permitted to continue to apply al
will methods of warfare violating
the rules of international law. Such
a demarI would be incompatible with
the character Of neutrality and thr
German government is convinced thai
the government Of the JTniAod State.
does rot think of making such a de.
rand, knowing that tie governme u
81 tho Urited States has REPEATEDLY
declared thai it. is determined to re
store the ryinciple Ct tho freedom q
the seas, from whatever quarter i
has veen violated
Tho American Replv
"To this the government of tn.
United States renlied or the eighth
of Mav. ar"epti7'~ Of course, the as
r'~"n"es given. bit p1dirg:
"'The Government Of the Unite,
Stotos feels IL necessary TO state tha
IT. tnNN2 y fer rrartna that The i'm
n"rinl G"rr,"r oovornnert does no
j--o''d to imply that tho maintenarc4
Of IT, nowlv rnnouncod nnlicy is !,
w. v-~-~ ro~ti~~o-,+ MON tho course
or r"suit of diplomatic negotiation
% - - EN -