The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-02-10
RELATIONS WITH
GERMANY SEVERED.

carefully prepared, calm, yet torch
bic address that inasmuch as the Ger
man government had formally an
nounced its purpose of waglng SUD- ,,
marine warfare against vessels OF all
nations venturing within speclhed
zones encircling the nations WIN
which Germany is at war, IN dlsfe-
gard and violation of the rights OF
neutral countries and of the pledges
made to the government of the Unit
ed States in connection with tne Sink
ing of the channel passenger steamer
Sussex on the oath of March, 1916,
no recourse was left but to carry OUT
the declaration made on the part OF
the United States at that time, name
ly:
"Unless the imperial government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment of it's present
methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight-carrylng yes,
sells. the government Of the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether"
The president informed congress
that in pursuance of this declaratlon'
~ have, therefore, directed the secre-
tary of state to announce to MS ex-
ceIiencv. the German ambassador,
that ali diplomatic relations between
the United States and the German
empire are severed and that the
American ambassador at Berlin Will
;n1mediately be withdrawn; and, in
accordance with this decision, to hand
his excellency his passports. !"
The concluding paragraphs OF the
presidents notable address so fifty ex-
press what we believe to be the senti-
nents and feelings of the great mass
of the people of the United States IN
this grave emergency, that we wish to
place their full text Of record in the
columns of the Chief, as follows:
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German government,
this sudden and deeply deplorable re-
nunciatio1 Of it's assurances given this
government at one of the most criti-
cal moments of tension in the rela-
tons of the two governments, l 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. l cannot
bring myself to believe that they will
indeed pay no heed 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 i'll
the wilful prosecution of the ruthless
naval program they have announced
their intention to adopt. Only actual
overt acts on their part can make me
believe it even now.
eff this inveterate confidence on
my part in the sobriety and prudent
foresight of their purpose should I'M
happily prove unfounded; if Ameri-
can ships and American lives should
in fact be sacrificed by their naval
commanders in needless contraven-
ton of the just and reasonable under
standings of international law and
the obvious dictates of humanity, I
shall take the liberty of coming again
before the congress to ask that au-
thority be given me to use any means
that nl;,y be necessary for the protec-
ton of our seasnen and our people in
the prosecution Of their peaceful and
legitimate errands on the high seas
| can do nothing else / take it for
granted that all neutral governments
will take the same course.
eve do not desire any hostile con-
flict with the imperial German gov
eminent. 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 we are
obliged to believe it; and we purpose
nothing more than the reasonable de-
Tense 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 to an
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"
The issue, therefore, is squarely
sup to Germany" If she desires
war with the United States or is in
different on the subject, caring moth
ing more for the amity than the en-
nifty of the greatest of the neutral
nations, she will not hesitate to COM
nit the overt acts indicated in Presi-
lent Wilson's address as affording |
ust provocation for a declaration Of |
lostilities. If, on the other hand, the |
Ierman government does not wish to |
lefty the neutral sentiment of the
world, as represented in the attitude |
If the United States, proper pre-
autions will be taken to avoid the
commission of these overt acts.
The senate at Washington on We'd
lesday adopted by rs yeas to 5 nays
resolution approving the stand of
resident Wilson, and if he is indeed
mpelled by Germany's conduct to
SIX congress for authority to fuse any
neans that may be necessary for the
rejection of our seamen and our peo-
lie in the prosecution of their peace
I'll and legitimate errands on the
Ugh seas" it is confidently assumed
hat there will not be single vote
galnst the proposition. And the
'yal people Of the United States
I'LL support their president with
quail unanimity and patriotism.
oh, the boil weevil amt such a
lI1nh II :.