The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-08

ton which she reserved IN her 11tlI
addressed to the government of the
United States on May 4, 1915.
@ 5h esf 6a aga Ger
of her enemies by forcibly preventing
after Feb. l, 1917, in zone around
F., Great Britain, France, Italy, and in
the eastern Mediterranean, all navi-
cation, that of neutrals included,
from and to ENGLAND and from and
! within the zone will be sunk"
! think that you will agree with,
me that, in view of this declara ton,
which suddenly and without prior in
timation Of any kind, deliberately
withdraws the solemn assurance Civ
Of the 4th of May, 1916, this govern
ment has no alternative consistent
with the dignity and honor of the
United States but to take the course
which, in its note OF the 18th OF
April, 1916, it. announced that it
man government did not declare and
effect an abandonment OF the meth
DDS of submarine warfare which it
was then employing and to which it
now purposes again to resort.
] have, therefore, directed the sec
cellency, 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Immediately be withdrawn; and, in
hand to his excellency his passports;
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action of the German government,
this sudden and deeply deplorable
renuncia ton of its assurances, given
to this government at one of the
most critical moments OF tension in
the relations of the two governments
refuse to believe that it is the inten-
ton 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 regard
to the ancient friendship between
solemn obligations which have been
exchanged between them and destroy
American ships and take the lives of
American citizens in the Willfu1 pros /;
ecution of the ruthless naval pro- !
gram they have announced their in
acts on their part can make me be-
lieVe it even now. |
If this inveterate confidence on my !
part in the sobriety and prudent |
foresight OF their purpose should I'M
happily prove unfounded; II Amerl i
in fact be sacrificed by their naval
commanders in needless contraven
ton of the just and reasonable un-
derstandingS of international law |
and the obvious dictates of human
ity, | shall take the liberty of COM
ing again before the congress, to ask !
that authority be given me to use ,
any means that may be necessary for
the protection Of our seamep and our
people in the prosecution OF their ,
peaceful and legitimate errands on
the high seas.
| can do nothing less. l take it
for granted that all neutral govern
ments will take the same course.
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 !
defense 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 i'm /
principles of our people !
which l sought to express in my adj
dress to. the senate only two weeks
ago-seek merely to vindicate our .
right to liberty and justice and an .
life.
These are the bases OF peace, not
war. God grant we may not be chal-- /,
lenged to defend them by acts of !
willful injustice on the part Of the
OF Germany.