The Monticellonian., 1917-02-08
PRESIDENT TELLS CONGRESS- WHY
 WE HAVE BROKEN WITH GERMANY

| heSpouSiDlHly III SUCH IndtIeFS l
 single, not joint; absolute, not rela | tive
 "To this note of the eighth of Ma
 the imperial German government mad
 no reply. On the thirty-first of Janu
 ary, the Wednesday of the presen
 week, the German ambassador handed to the secretary of state, along with formal note, memorandum whicl contains the following statements: 1 "The imperial government, there
 fore, does not doubt that the govern l ment of the United States will under stand the situation thus forced upor Germany by the entente allies bruta
 methods of war and by their determlna tion to destroy the central powers, anC
 that the government of the United states will further realize that tho now openly disclosed intentions of tht entente allies give back to Germany the freedom of action which she re served in her note addressed to the government of the United States OF May 1, 1916.
 Under these circumstances Ger many will meet the illegal measures of her enemies by forcibly preventing after February 1, 1917. in zone around Great Britain, France. Italy and in the eastern Mediterranean all navigation. that Of neutrals included from and 10 England and from and to France, etc. etc. All ships met within the zone will he sunk.
 q think that you will agree with me that, in view of this declaration. which suddenly and without prior intimation of any kind deliberately withdraws the solemn assurance given in the inn perial governments note of the fourth of May. 1916, this government has no alternative consistent with the dignity and honor of the United States but to take the course which, in its note of the eighteenth of April, 1916 it an- nounced that it would take in the event that the German government did not declare and effect an abandonment of the methods of submarine warfare which if was then employing and to which it now purposes again to re- sort.
 q have therefore, directed the sec retary of state to announce to his ex- cellency the German ambassador that all diplomatic relations between the United States and the German empire are severed and that the American am bassador at Berlin will be immediately withdrawn, and in accordance with this decision to hand to his exeellency his passports.
 Notwithstanding this unexpected action of the German government. this sudden and deeply deplored re- nuneiation of it's assurances. given this government at one of the most critical moments ef tension in the re- lations of the two governments. I re- fuse to believe that it is the intention of the German authorities to do in fact what they have warned us they will feel at liberty to do. I cannot bring myself te believe that they will indeed pay no regard to the ancient friendship between their people and our own or to the solemn obligations which have been exchanged between them and destroy American ships and take the lives of American citizens in the willfu1 prosecution of the ruth less naval program they have an nounced their intention to adopt Only actual overt acts on their part can make me believe 1t even now
 
 If this inveterate confidence on my part in the sobriety and prudent fore sight of their purpose should unhappily prove unfounded; if American ships and American lives should in fact be sacrificed by their naval commanders in needless contravention of the just and reasonable understandings of in- ternational law and the obvious die tates of humanity, I shall take the lib- erty of coming again before the con gross. to ask that authority be given me to use any means that may be nee essary for protection of our seamen and our people in the prosecution of their peaceful and legitimate errands on the high seas. I can do nothing less I take it for granted that all neutral governments will take the same course.
 "We do not desire any hostile con tlict with the imperial German govern ment. We are the sincere friends of the German people and earnestly de- sire to remain at peace with the gov ernment which speaks for them. We shall not believe that they are hostile to us unless and until we are obliged to believe it, and we purpose nothing more than the reasonable defense of the undouhted rights of our people. We wish to serve no selfish ends. We seek merely to stand true alike in thought and in action, to the imme- morial principles of our people which l sought to express in my address to the senate only two weeks ago-seek merely to vindicate our right to liberty and an unmoested life These are the bases of peace, not war. Grant .sa' we shall not be challenged to de
 e.' 'lem hy acts of wilful injustice on rne part of the government of Ger many
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