Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-07
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
HAVE BEEN SEVERED
President Appeared Before the Congress and Outlined the
Only Course to Be Pursued by Which tie Honor
and Integrity Of the United States is to
.. Be Uphe1d-Text of Last Note"

Washington, Feb. 3.-The sever
ance OF diplomatic relations with
Germany was formally announced to
the country and the world by Presi-
dent Wilson at a joint session of Con-
gress to-day at 2 o'clock.
The United States now stands on
the verge Of war with all the historic
precedents Of centuries pressing it
forward
Fervently invoking the guidance Of
Almighty God in the step he has
taken. President Wilson detailed to
Congress why the United States
should not continue relations with a
Warring power which repeatedly in
vades Americas sacred rights and
takes the lives of its citizens.
Calm with sense of right in what
may prove the most somber moment
Of American history. the President
stood III the historic hall of the House
OF Representatives and with Senators
and Representatives before him spoke
the words which may carry the coun-
try into the world conflict, not for ag-
gression and not for power; only for
law, and humanity
Silent and attentive. the grim COM
pany Of the nations lawmakers lis
tened with rapt attention while Pres
ident Wilson told OF Americas course
In the now unsuccessful diplomatic
struggle to dissuade Germany from
her campaign of ruthlessness.
President Wilson'S Speech.
The President spoke as follows:
"Gentlemen Of the Congress:
the imperial German government
on the 31st day Of January announc-
ed to this government and to the
government Of other neutral nations
that on and after the first day Of
February, the present month, it
would, adopt policy with regard to
the use of submarines against all
shipping seeking to pass through GER
tain designated areas of the high
seas, to which it is clearly my duty
to call your attention.
Let me remind the Congress that
on the Sth day Of April last in view
of the sinking on the oath Of March
OF the cross-channel passenger steam
er Sussex by German submarine,
without summons or warning, and the
consequent loss Of lives Of several cit
liens OF the United States who were
passengers aboard her, this govern
ment addressed note to the impe-
Following declaration:
''If it is still the purpose of the
imperial government to prosecute re-
lentless and indiscriminate warfare
against vessels OF commerce by the
use OF her submarines without re-
gard to what the government OF the
United States must consider the sa-
cred and indisputable rules of inter-
national law and the universally rec
ognized dictates Of huamnity, 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-carry-
ing vessels, the government OF the
United States can have no choice but
to sever diplomatic relations with the
German Empire altogether.
Germnny's Assurances.
In reply to this decision the impe-
rial German government gave this
government the following assurances:
The German government is pre-
pared to do its utmost to confine the
operations Of war for the rest Of it's
duration to the fighting forces Of the
belligerents, thereby also insuring
the freedom Of the seas, principle
upon which the German government
believes now, as before, to be in
agreement with the government of
the United States.
The German government, guild
ed by this, notifies the government Of
the United States that the German
naval forces have received the fol-
lowing orders:
IN accordance with the general
visit and search for the destruction Of