Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-03

nounced that it would take in the
event that the German government
did not declare and effect an abandon
ment of the methods of submarine
warfare Which it was then employing
and to which 1t now purposes again
to resort.
Il have, therefore, directed the
Secretary of State to announce to His
Excellency, the German ambassador.
that all diplomatic relations between
the United States and the German en-
pire are severed and that the Amer
lean ambassador at Berlin will i'm
medfately be withdrawn: and, in ac-
cordance with this decision, to hand
to His Excellency Lis passports.
Cannot Believe Action Possible
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German government this
sudden and deeply deplorable renunci-
alton of its assurances, given this
government at one of the most critical
moments of tension in the relations OF
the two governments. l refuse to be-
lieve that it is the intention of the
German government authorities to do
in fact what they have warned us
they will feel at liberty to do. | can
not bring myself to believe that they
Will indeed pay no regard to the an
cient friendship between their people
and our own or to the solemn obliga-
tons which have been exchanged be
tween them, and destroy American
ships and take the lives of American
citizens in the wilfla prosecution of
the ruthless naval program they have
announced their intention to adopt.
Only actual overt acts on their part
can mako me believe it eevn now.
IF this inveterate confidence on
my part in the soSriety and prudent
foresight of thej" purpose should nm
happily. prove unfounded; il Arc
lean ships and American lives s.ould
in fact be sacrificed by their naval
commanders in needless crntraven-
ton of the Just and reasonab ic under
standings of international law and tho
obvious dictates of humanity. | shall
take the liberty of coming again be-
fore the Congress to ask that authority
be given me to use any means that
may be necessary for the protection.
OF our seamen and our people in thu
prosecution of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas /
can do nothing less. / take it for
granted that all neutral governments
will take the same course.
I'VE do not desire any hostile con-
flict with the Imperial German gov
ernment. We are the sincere friends
of the German people and earnestly
desire to remain at peace with the
government which speaks for them
We shall not believe that they are
hostile to us unless and until VIC are
obliged to believe it: and we purpose
nothing more than the reasonable de-
fense of the undoubted 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
immemorial principles of our people
which have sought to express in my
address to the Senate only two weeks
ago-seek merely to- vindicate our
right to liberty and justice and an un-
molested life. These are the bases of
peace, not war. God grant that we
may not be challenged to defend
them by acts of willful injustice on
the part of the government OF Ger
many"
Will Again Come Before Congress
In concluding his address President
Wilson declared that he could not
even now believe that Germany in
tends any overt acts against American
citizens but that il overt acts are
Forthcoming he will again come be-
fore Congress to ask authority ito use
any means that may be necessary for
the protection of our seamen and our
people," All neutral governments, lie
believes, will take the same course.
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 il her enemy
is permitted to continue to apply at
will methods of warfare violating the
rules of international law. Such de-
mand would be incompatible with the
character of neutrality, and the Ger
man government is convinced that the
Government of tie United States does
not think of making such q demand
knowing that the government of the
United States has repeatedly declared
that it is determined to restore tie
principle of the freedom of the seas.
from whatever quarter 1t has been
violated