Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-04


the slightsst degree be made contin-
gent upon the conduct Of any other
government, affecting the rights Of
neutrals and nom combatants. Re-
sponsibility in such matters 10 single,
not Joint: absolute. not relative
NO REPLY GENT.
40 this note Of the eighth Of May,
the imperial German government made
no reply.
ION the thirty-first Of January, tho
"wednesday Of the present week, the
German ambassador handed to the
secretary Of state. along with q formal
note. . memorandum which contained
the following statement:
""The imperial government, there.
fore. does not doubt that the govern
ment Of the United States will under
stand the situation thus forced upon
Germany by the entente allies brutal
methods Of war and by their determin-
alton to destroy tho central powers and
that the government of the United
States will further realise that the
now openly disclosed intention Of the
entente allies gives back to Germany
the freedom Of action which she re-
served In her note addressed to the
government Of the United States on
May I, 1915.
Under these circumstances Ger
many will meet the illegal measures of
her enemies by forcibly preventing af-
ter Feb ]. 1917. in q zone around Great
Britain, France. italy and in the east
ern Mediterranean, all navigation, that
pP IRA L. In
land and from and to France, ETC., etc.
All ships met within the zone will be
sunk
NO ALTERNATIVE.
II think that you will agree with
mo that, in view of this declaration,
which suddenly and without prior in
timation Of any kind, deliberately
the solemn assurance given
In the imperial governments note of
May I, 1915, this government has no
consistent with the dignity
and honor Of the United States, but to
take the course which in it's note Of
the 18th OF April 1916, it announced
that 1t would take in the event that
the German government did not de-
clare and effect an abandonment of
the methods of submarine warfare
which 1t was then employing and to
which 1t now purposes again to re-
sort
Il have therefore, directed the secre-
tary 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
no Of OIL.
be withdrawn and, in accordance with
this decision. to hand his excellency
his passports.
KEEPS UP HOPE FOR PEACE.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German government, this
sudden and deeply deplorable renun-
citation Of its measures, given this
government at one OF the most criti- |
cal moments of tension in the rela-
Ions OF the two governments, refuse |
10 believe that 1t Is the intention of |
he German authorities to do in fact |
what they have warned US they will |
EEL at liberty to do.
Il cannot briLg myself to believe
hat they will indeed pay no regard |
o the ancient friendship between their 1
people and our own or to the solemn
Obligations which have been exchanged J.
between them and destroy American 1
hips and take the lives Of American
citizens In the wilful prosecution of |
he ruthless naval program they have 1
their intention to adopt. 4
only actual overt acts OH their part 1
an make me believe 1t even now.
EXPECTS OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
,tsr
and prudent foresight of their 4
purpose should unhappily prove I'M
ounded; II American ships and Amer
cali lives should in fact be sacrificed Il
~ their naval commanders in heed
ess contr.vention of the Just and rea-
enable understandings of interna-
ional law and the Obvious dictates of
! shall take the liberty of
oming again Before the congress to
SIX that authority be given me to use
ny means that may be necessary for
he protection OF our seamen and our
eople In the prosecution Of their
eaceful and legitimate errands on
he high seas. / can do nothing less Il
take it for granted that all neutral
overnments will take the same course
We do not desire any hostile con-
lict with the imperial German peo-
lie and earnestly desire to remain at
eace with the government which /
peaks foc them. We shall not be-
eve that they are hostile to us unless
nd until we are obliged to believe it;
nd we purpose nothing more than
he reasonable defense Of the un-
QUILTED rights OF our people.
I'VE wish to serve no selfish ends
We seek merely to stand true alike in
bought and in action to the imme-
iorial principles Of our people which
have sought to express In my address