Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-02-09
President Wilson'S Address To
Congress-.

can lives and rights means war.
Similar action is waiting for Austria
when she notifies this Government that
she joins in the campaign of unrestricted
submarine warfare.
The President made formal announce
ment of his action to the country and to
the world last Saturday at joint session
Of Congress.
Gentlemen Of the Congress:
The Imperial German Government on
the 3lst of January announced to this
Government and to the governments of
other neutral nations that on and after
the first day Of February, the present
month, it would adopt the policy with re-
gard to the use Of submarines against all
shipping seeking to pass through certain
designated areas Of the high seas, to which
it is clearly my duty to call your attention.
Let me remind the Congress on the 9th
Of April last, in view of the sinking on
the twenty-fourth Of March Of the cross
channel passenger steamer Sussex by a
German submarine without summons or
warning and the consequent loss of the
lives of several citizens of the United
States who were passengers aboard her,
this Government addressed note to the
Imperial German Government in which it
made the following declaration:
If it is still the purpose Of the Imperial
Government to prosecute relentless and
indiScriminate yvarfara aao;,., ,,o...t -
commerce by the use of submarines with
out regard to what the Government of the
United States must consider the sacred and
indisputable rules of international law and
the universally recognized dictates Of hu-
manity. the Government of the United
States is at last forced to the conclusion
that there is but one course it can pursue.
Unless the Imperial Government should
now Immediately declare and effect an
abandonment Of its present methods of
submarine warfare against passenger and
freight carrying vessels. the Government
OF the United States can have no choice
but to sever diplomatic relations with the
German Empire altogether
In reply to this declaration the Imperial
German Government gave this Government
the following assurance:
THE German Government is prepared
to do its utmost to confine the operations
OF war for the rest of its duration to the
hehting forces of the bellieerents, thereby
also insuring the freedom Of the seas. a
principle upon which the German Govern
ment believes now. as before, to be in
agreement with the Government Of 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 following orders In &C.
cordance with the general principles of
visit and search and destruction of mer-
chant vessels recognized by International
law. such vessels, both within and without
the area declared naval war zone, shall
not be sunk without warning and without
saving human lives. unless these ships
attempt to escape or offer resistance.
But. il added. 'neutrals cannot expect
that Germany, forced to fight for her exis-
tence, shall for the sake of neutral interest
restrict the use Of an effective weapon if
her enemy is permitted to continue to
apply at will methods Of warfare violating
the rules of international law. Such a
demand would be incompatible with the
character Of neutrality and the German
Government is convinced that the Govern
ment of the United States does not think
Of making such demand, knowing that
the Government of the United States has
repeatedly declared that it is determined
to restore the principles Of the freedom of
the seas, from whatever quarter il has
been violated
10 this the Government Of the United
States replied on the eighth of May, ac-
cepting. Of course. the assurances given,
but adding:
THE Government Of the United States
feels il necessary to state that 1t takes for
granted that the Imperial German Govern
ment does not intend to imply that the
maintenance Of its newly announced policy
is in any way contingent upon the course
or result Of diplomatic negotiations between
the Government Of the United States and
any other belligerent governments, notwith-
standing the fact that certain PASSAGES in
the Imperial Government note Of the 4th
instant might appear to be susceptible Of
that construction. In order. however, &c
avoid misunderstanding the Government OF
the United States notified the Imperial
Government that it cannot for moment
entertain. much less discuss. a suggestion
that respect by German naval authorities
for the rights Of citizens of the United
States upon the high seas should in any
way or in the slightest degree be made
contingent upon the conduct of any other
government, affecting the rights of neutrals
and noncombatants. Responsibility in such
matters is single. not joint; absolute. mol
relative
ITO this note of the 9Th Of May the I'm.
perial German Government made no reply
''On the 3ist Of January. the Wednes.
day Of the present week. the German Am
bassador handed to the Secretary of State
along with formal note a memorandum
which contained the following statement
THE Imperial Government therefore
does not doubt that the Government of the
United States will understand the situation
thus forced upon Germany by the Entente
Allies brutal methods Of war and by their
determination to destroy the Central Pow
ers. and that the Government Of the United
States will further realize that the now
openly disclosed intention Of the Entente
Allies gives back to Germany the freedom
Of action which she reserved in her note
addressed to the Government Of the United
States on May 4th. 1915.
"'Under these circumstances Germany