The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-02-09

States upon the high seas shoulu III
any way or in the slightest degree
be made contingent upon the conduct
of any other government. affecting
the rights OF neutrals and noncom
battants. Responsibility in such
matters is single, not joint; absolute.
not relative
ITO this note of the Sth of Nav
the Imperial German government
made no reply
ION the thirty-first of January. the
Wednesday of the present week, the
German Ambassador handed To the
Secretary Of State, along with for
NAL note, a memorandum which con
tanned the following statement:
THE Imperial Goyernment.thcr".
fore. does not doubt that the govern
ment of the United States will uu-
icrstand the situation thus forced up
on Germany by the Entente Allies
brutal methods OF war and by their
determination to destroy the Central
Powers. and that the government Of
the United States will further realize
that the now openly disclosed intcn-
ton Of the Entente Allies give back
to Germany the freedom OF action
which she reserved in her note ad-
dressed TO the government OF the
United States on May 1. 1916
Under these circumstances Ger.
many will meet the illegal measures
of her enemies by forcibly prevent
ing after February I. 1917, in a zone
around Great Britain. France. Italy
lnd in the Eastern Mediterranean.
all navigation, that OF neutrals in
cluded from and to England and
from and to France, etc. All ships
within the zone will be sunk"
Il think that you will agree vita
me that. in view OF this declaration.
which suddenly and without prior in
timation of any kind deliberately
withdraws the solemn assurance Civ
en- in the Imperial governments note
Of May 4, 1916. this government has
no alternative consistent with the
dignity and honor of the United
States but 10 take the course which,
in its note of April is, 1916, it an
nounced that il would take. in the
event that the German government
did not declare and effect an aban-
donment OF the methods of subma-
rine warfare which IL was then en-
ploying, and to which IL now pro-
poses again to resort.
Il have, therefore, directed the
Secretary of State to announce 10 his
excellency. 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immediately be withdrawn; and, IN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
Hopes for Better Things.
Notwithstanding this unexpected
action OF the German government
this sudden and deeply deplorable re-.
nunciatiOn of its assurances. given
this government at one OF the most
critical moments OF tension in the re-
larions of the two governments, | re-.
fuse 10 believe that il is the in
tentidn of the German authorities
to do in fact what they have warned
Ms they will feel at liberty to do.
cannot bring myself to believe tha'
they will indeed pay no regard to the
ancient friendship between their PEG
pie and our own or To the solemn oh
legations which have been exchange
between them, and destroy America
ships and take the lives of Ameri
can citizens in the willful prosecu
ton OF the ruthless naval program
they have announced their inten'
ton IT, adopt. Only actual overt act
on their part can make me believe j
even now.
eff this inveterate confidence OF
my part in the sobrioty and pruden
foresight OF their purpose should un
happily prove unfounded; II Ameri
can ships and American lives shout
In fact be sacrificed by their naya
commanders in needless Contraycn
. ton of the just and reasonable un
dor-.andmgs OF international law ani
, the Obvious dictates Of humanity,
snail take The liberty Of coming agar
before the Congress To ask that an
thority be given 60 me to use an
ImcJus that may be necessary for TIA
protection of our seamcn and on
people in the prosecution OF thci
j peaceful and legitimate crrands Of
the high seas, 7 can do nothing less
Il take it. for granted that all neu
trail governments will take the sam
course.
I'VE do not desire any hostile con
aict with the Imperial German gov
urnment. We are the sincere friend
Of the German people and earnestl