The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-02-08

government, Notwithstanding the fact
that certain passages in the imper-
ial governments note of the fourth
instant might appear to be susceptl-
BE Oh u at construction. In order,
however, to avoid any misunderstood
ing. he government of the United
States notifies the imperial govern
ment that it cannot for moment
e e sugpestio aa'n that respect
hy German naval authorities for the
rights of citizens Of the United States
upon the high seas should in any
wav or in the slightest degree be
made contingent upon the conduct of
any government affecting the right
Of neutrals, and non-combatants. Re
sponsibility in such matters IS SIN
Gle. not Joint; absolute, not relative
"To this note of the eighth of May
the imperial German government
made no reply.
Germany's Latest Declaration
"On the 31st of January, the We'd
nesdav of the present week, the Ger
man ambassador handed to the Sec
rotary of State, along with a formal
note, a memorandum which contain
ed the following statement:
"'The imperial government, there
fore, does not doubt that the gov
eminent of the United States will
understand the situation thus forced
upon Germany by the Entente Al
lies brutal methods of war and by
their determination to destroy the
Central powers, and that the govern
ment of the United States will fur
Their realize that the now openly dis
closed intention Of the Entente Al
lies gives back to Germany the free
dom of action which she reserved in
her note addressed to the government
of the United States on May 4, 1916.
"Under these circumstances, Ger
many will meet the illegal measures
Of her enemies by forcibly nrevent-
ing after February list. 1917. in a
zone around Great Britain, Francs,
italy and in the Eastern Mediter-
rerear, all navigation. that Of nou-
trolls included. from and to England
and from end n France. etc. c..
Al ships met within the zone will be
sunk
But One Alternative
II think that you will agree with
me that, in view Of this declaration,
which suddenly and without prior in
tiuation Of any kind deliberately
withdraws the solemn assurance Civ
en- in the imperial governments note
Of the fourth Of May, 1916, this gov
eminent has no alternative consist
ent with the dignity ard honor of the
United States, but to take the course
which, in it's note Of the 18th of
April, 1916, it announced it would
take in the event that the German
government did not declare and eff
feet an abandonment Of the
methods of submarine warfare
which it was then employing
and to which it now purposes again
to resort.
~ have, therefore, directed the
Secretary of State to announce to his
exceilency the German ambassador,
that all diplomatic relations between
the United States and the German
Empire are severed and that the
American ambassador at Berlin will
! Immediately be withdrawn; and, in
accordance with this decision, to hand
to his excellency, his passports.
Believe Friendship Will be Regarded
Notwithstanding this unexpected
. action Of the German government,
this Sudden and deeply deplorable
pronunciation of its assurances, given
this government a. one OF the
most critical moments Of tension in
the relations Of the two governments,
j refuse to beneve that it is the in
tention OF the German authorities to-
; Go, in fact what they have warned
Us they will feel at liberty to 20.
, I cannot bring myself to believe that
! they will indeed pay no regard to
the ancient friendship between their
people ard our own or to the solemn
OBLIGATIONS which have been exchang-
ed between them and destroy Amer
lean ships and take the lives Of
American citizens in the wilfull pros
ecutior Of the ruthless naval pro-
oramme they have announced their
intention to adopt. Only actual ov-
ertacts on their part can make me
believe il even now.
of this inveterate confidence on
my mart in the scbriety and prudent
foresight of their purpose should I'M
{ happily prove unfounded; if American
ships and American lives should, in
fact. be sacrificed by their naval
commanders in needless contraven-
ZION of the just ard reasonable I'M
derstandings of international law and
the obvious dictates Of humanity, l
shall take the liberty of coming again
to the Congress and ask that author
~ ho given me to use any means
thet ray be necessary for the protec-
ton of our seamen and our people in
80 prosecution of their peaceful and
lee,:+ir,o+n or-ands on the high seas.
7 can do nothing less. take it for
granted that all neutral governments
will take the same course.
Sincere Friends of Germany
eve do not desire any hostile con
flict with the Imperial German gov
ernment We are sincere friends of
the government which speaks for
the German people and earnestly de-
sire RI remain ct peace w p
them. We shall not believe that thev
are hostile to us unless and until We
are obliged to believe it: and We pur-