Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-02-04
WILSON'S SPEECH
CONTINUED from Page ~

warning, ana tue SunrVVVVht 'oen W
the lives OF several citizens OF the
United States who were passengers
aboard her, this government ad'
dressed a note to.thc imperial Ger
man government In which II made
the following declaration;
II II Ia still the purpose OF the
Imperial government to prosecute the
ruthless war against vessels OF cou''
merce by the use Of submarines with
out regard 10 what the government
Of the United States must consider
the sacred and indisputabie rules Of
international law and the universally
recognized dictates Of humanity, the
government OF tho United States Is ~
last forced to the conclusion that
there Ia but one course Il can pur-
sue. Unless the German government
should now Immediately declare and
effect an abandonment OF Its present
methods OF submarine warfare
against passenger and freight carry
ing vessels. the government of the
United States can have no choice but
TO sever diplomatic relations with the
German empire altogether.
I'm reply to this declaration. the
German government gave this govern
ment the following assurances;
'' The German government Ia pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine the
OF war for the rest OF its
duration to the hghting forces OF
the belligerents. thereby insuring the
freedom OF the seas. q principle up
on which the German government
believes itself now. as before. to be
In agreement with the United States,
The German government guided by
this idea notifies the government OF
the United States that the German
naval forces have received the FOL
lowing orders:
+" In accordance with the general
principles OF visit and search and des-
truction OF merchant vessels recog"
nlzed BY international law. such ves-
sells. both within and without the
area declared as naval war zone. shall
not be sunk without warning ana
without saving human lives. unless
these ships attempt to escape. or Of
fer resistance.
But It added, 'reutrals cannot
expect that Germany. forced to night
for her existence. shall for the sake
,f the neutral interests, deny her
self OF the right OF useful weapon,
Il her enemies continue to violate the
.ules OF International law. Such de-
nand would be incompatible with
he character OF neutrality, and the
ierman government Is convinced that
he government OF the United States
loes not think OF making such a de-
nand. knowing that the government
,f the United States has repeatedly
declared that II Is determined to re-
tore the principle OF the freedom OF
he seas from whatever quarter Il has
'een violated
ITO this the government OF the
'nited States replied on the eighth
( Nay accepting, OF course, the as
trance given but adding:
=" The government OF the United
,tates feels II It's duty to state that
/ takes 1t for granted that the Ger
nan government does not intend to
mply the maintenance OF its prom
,es depends in any way on the re-
alt of negotiations between the
rnlted States and other belligeren
Notwithstanding the fac
hat certain passages In the imperial
note Of the fourth
light appear to be susceptible to
nat construction.
ION Wednesday OF the present
eek the German ambassador hand
d to the secretary OF state u mem
randa which contains the following
Iatement.
=" The imperial government there
,re does not doubt that the gov
rnment OF the United States Will un-
erstand the situation thus forced
pom Germany by the entente allies
rutal methods OF war and by their
to destroy the central
overs, and that the government OF
le United States Will further rea-
20 that the new openly disclosed In
,ntions OF the entente allies give
ack to Germany the freedom OF ac-
on which she reserved In her more
idressed to the government OF the
nited States on May 4. 1916.
" Under these circumstances Ger
any will meet the Illegal measures
her enemies by probably prevent
q in a zone around Great Britain,