The Monticellonian., 1917-02-08


 of congress, told his reasons for breal ing off diplomatic negotiations wit Germany. He said:
 ITO the congress, February 8, 1917
 Gentlemen of the Congress:
 "The Imperial German governmen on the 31st of January announced {, this government and to the govern ments of the other neutral nations that on and after the 1st day of Febru ary, the present month. it would adop q policy with regard 10 the use O submarines against all shipping seek ing to pass through certain designated areas of the high seas to which it is clearly my duty to call your attention
 Let me remind the congress thai on the 18th of April last, in view oi the sinking on the 24th of March ot the cross Channel passenger steamer Sussex by a German submarine, with out summons or warning. and the con sequent loss of the lives of several citizens of the United States, who were passengers aboard her, this gov ernment addressed q note to the Im- perial German government in which it made the following declarations:
 /" If it still be the purpose of the i'm perial government to prosecute relent- less and indiscrimfnate 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 die tates of humanity, the government of the United States is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but one course it can pursue Unless the im- perial government should now and im- mediately declare and effect an aban- donment of it's present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels, the gov ernment of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic re- 1ations with the German empire alto gether'
 Tn reply to this declaration the im- perial German government gave this government the following assurance:
 The German government is pre- pared to do it's utmost to confine the operations of the war for the rest of it's duration to the fighting forces of the belligerents, 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.
 "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 general principles of visit and search and destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international law, such vessels, both within and without the area declared as naval war zone, declared as naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human lives, unless these ships attempt to escape or offer resistance
 But it added, 'neutrals cannot expect that Germany. forced to fight for her existence, shall, for the sake of neutral interests, restrict the Use of an effective weapon if her enemy is per mitted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating the rules of international law Such a demand would be incompatible with the char aeter of neutrality, and the German government is convinced that the gov ernment of the United States does not think of making such demand, knowing that the government of the United States has repeatedly declared that 1t is determined to restore the principle of the freedom of the seas, from whatever quarter 1t has been vio- lated
 "'ro this the government of the Unit ed States replied on the eighth of May, accepting, of course. the assurance giv- en- but adding:
 ""The government of the United States feels it necessary to state that it takes 1t for granted that the i'm perial German government does not intend 1t to imply that the maintenance of it's newly announced policy is in any way contingent upon the course of re- suits of diplomatic negotiations be- tween the government of the United States and other belligerent govern ments, notwithstanding the fact that certain passages in the imperial gov ernment's note of the fourth instant might appear to be susceptible of that construction. In order, however, to avoid any possible misunderstanding the government of the United States notifies the imperial government that it cannot for moment entertain. much less discuss. a suggestion that respect by Geis s~ navai authorities for the rights ot 1.,- United States upon the high s5 in any way in the slighgeSl te-.4.
 made contingent upon the eeedHct 0t any other government affecting the rights of neutrals and noncombatants. ~~~S~-~~~~~~ro~~.o-~