Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-08

should IN any way or in the Siigl est dc
be made contingent upon the condud
any other government. affecting
rights of neutrals and combat
Responsibility in such matters is 81
not Joint, absolute, not relative.
To this note of She Sch OF May thd
p'r rial German Government made
reply.
On the Sist of January. the Wedns-
of the present week, the German
bassador handed to the secretary of
along with a formal note, memoran
which contained the following s
mcnt:
The imperial government there
does not doubt that the GOV
ment of the United States will
derstand the situation thus fo
upon Germany by the ontente
lies brutal methods If war and by
determination to destroy the central
ers, and that the government Of the
ted States will further realize that
now openly disclosed intention Of thd
tentc allies gives back to Germany
freedom of action which she rcservcI
her note addressed to tho governmet
the United states on MAY (, 1915.
Under these circumstances Gerld
will meet the illegal measures of her
mics by forcibly preventing, after td
AIRY I. 1917. in a zone around Great Bril-
France. Italy and in the eastern N
terranean. all navigation, that of neu
included, from and to England and
and to France, etc. All ships met Wl
tho zone will be sunk.
think that you will agree With
that. in view of this declaration. vi
suddenly and without prior intind
of any kind deliberately Withdra VS.
solemn assurance given in the imp
government note of tho ith of May.
this government has no alternative
Sistent with the dignity and honor Of
United States but to take the ca
which, in its note Of the 18th of April.
it announced it would take in the =
| that the German government did not
clare and effect an abandonment of
methods Of submarine warfare whic
was then employing and To which it
| purposes again to resort.
have therefore directed the score
Of state to announce to his eXccllenc!
German ambassador that all diplor
rela tons between the United States
the German empire arc severed and
the American ambassador at Berlin
Immediately he withdrawn; and, in
cordancc with this decision, to han
! his cxceloncy his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected a
of the German government, this si
and deplorable remuneration of its a
ances, given this government at one o
most critical moments Of tension III
relations of the two governments. | r.
to believe that il is the intention oil
German authorities to do in fact
they have warned us they will fee
liberty to do cannot bring myse
believe that they will indeed pay n,
gard to the ancient friendship bet
their people and our own or to the
emn obligations which have been
changed between them, and de;
American ships and take the live
American citizens in the willful pro-
ton of the Ruthless naval program
have announced their intention to a
Only actual overt acts on their part
make me believe it even now.
If this inveterate confidence on my
in the sobriety and prudent foresig
their purpose should unhappily prove
founded. If American ships and Ame
lives should in fact be sacrificed by
naval commanders in Needless contr;
tion Of the just and reasonable y
standings Of international law and
obvious dictates of humanity | shall
tho liberty of coming again before
Congress to ask that authority be
me to use any means that may be II
sary for the protection of our Sc
and our people in the prosecution of
peaceful and legitimate crrand5 or
high seas. ! can do nothing less. !
it for granted that all neutral so
ments will take the Same course.
We do not desire any hostile 60
with the imperial German govern
We are the sincere friends of the
man people. and earnestly desire I
main at peace with tho govern
which speaks for them We shall
believe that they are hostile to US 4
and until We are obliged to bolio'
and VIC purpose nothing more thar
reasonable defense of tho undo
rights of our people. We wish to
no selfish ends, We seek merely to
true like in thought and III action t
immemOrial principles of our r
which ! have sought 10 express II
address to the Senate only two '
ago-Seek merely TO vlndcatc our
to liberty and justice and an unmoI
life These are tile bases Of peace
war God grant that We may IL
challenged to defend them ny &C
Wilful injustice on the part Cf the so
mont OF & Germany