The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-02-09
War Warning Sent Kaiser, Who is
Told That Loss Of American Lives
at Sea Means Hostilities.
Passports Are Handed Count Won Bernstorff, German
Ambassador and Ambassador Gerard and His Staff
Have Been Ordered Home.-Dignity and Honor
of Nation Demands Step, Says President

Washington -Presiden Wilson has
Broken off diplomatic relations with
Germany and warned the kaiser that
ruthless sacrifice Of American lives
and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Austria
when she notifies this government
that she joins in the campaign OF un'
restricted submarine warfare.
The president made formal an
nouncement OF his action TO the coun'
try and TO the world on February 3
at a Joint session OF congress.
Passports have been handed Count
Won Bernstorff; Ambassador Gerard,
with his staff, and all American con.
suls have been ordered out OF Ger
many. All German consuls in the
United States are expected to with.
draw that the severance OF relations
may be complete. American diplo
matte interests In Berlin have been
turned over to Spain; German diplo-
matte interests In the United States
have been taken over by Switzerland.
Foreign diplomatic interests which
the United States had In charge in
Germany have been turned over TO
various neutrals.
Two years OF diplomatic negota-
ton, marked with frequent crises and
attended with the loss OF more than
200 American lives on the high seas,
have eliminated with an act which In
all the history OF all the world has al
ways led to war Every agency Of
the American government has been
set In motion TO protect the country
against acts OF German sympathizers
These moves are OF necessity being
kept secret
With the notice OF severance OF dip
loniatic relations, the United States
sent 10 Berlin demand for the i'm
mediate release OF sixty-four Ameri
cans taken from ships captured by
German raiders In the south Atlantic
At the request Of the president, con
gress. Immediately after hearing his
address. began work on new laws
framed by the department of justice
TO check conspiracies and plots agains
the United States which cannot b.
reached under existing statutes.
The question OF conveying Amer
lean merchant ships through the sub
marine blockade has been taken III
and Is being considered as one of this
next moves by this government.
The news OF the torpedoing OF this
American steamer Housatonic, coming
almost before President Wilson's
words In congress had died away, ere
ated tremendous sensation. but Il
does not necessarily constitute sucl
an invasion of American rights as the
president said he would meet by ask
ing congress for additional authorit,
10 act.
At 1890 O'Clock Saturday morning
Il became known that Ambassador
Gerard had been ordered home anC
that passports had been sent to Coun
Won Bernstorff. Although there WA
no official confirmation Of the presi
dents decision until he formally an
nounced II himself to congress, tn,
knowledge spread rapidly,
Count Won Bernstorff heard II IN
officially while talking with pres
correspondent. While apparentl,
deeply moved. he was not surprised
His first act was TO ask DIR. Paul Ri
ter, the Swiss minister, TO come I
the German embassy and prepare I
take over it's affairs. Then he IL
formed his wife. an American Dor
woman, Of the development and like
wise told the embassy staff Hi
passports were not actually delivere
until o'clock in the afternoon.
President Wilson kept himself
Beclusion during the morning. exceI
for brief conference with Secretar
Lansing, until he left the Whit
House for the capitol shortly befoI
2 o'clock
AS usual committee Of congress
men met the president and escorte
him To the speakers dais. The who
body rose and cheered as the pres
dent, acknowledging their greetir
without his usual smile. but grir
faced and solemn, took his place
the clerks desk and began readiI
the document which is being hear
round the world"
Briefly he reviewed how, last Apr
the United States warned German
after the destruction Of the Suss'