The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-30

blockaded ports on the same date to
reach their destination. Similarly the
safety Of passengers already en- route
In enemy passenger ships was gllaran-
teed, but responsibility for the safety
Of Americans on enemy freight steam
ers was shifted to the owners OF such
low their boats to enter the blockaded
zone. After February /, one regular
American passenger ship was to be per-
mitted by Germany to arrive, by a
clearly marked route, at the port Of
Falmouth, England, but only on Sum
days; another American passenger ship
would be permitted to leave the same
port py the same route, but only on
Wednesdays. These American ships,
however were to carry marks of identi-
fication, laid down by Germany, and
guarantee that they did not have on
board any Of the articles listed by Ger
many as contraband of war. The sec
ond note covered practically the same
ground. It contained, however, more
explicit statement as to the fate await
ing ships that should enter the forbid
den zones. 1t said all ships within that
zone shall be sunk. In spite of the
TACT that the note concluded with the
expression Of the hope that the United
States would further the German
plan, Germany must have realized that
the announcement Of her program
would be followed almost inevitably by
a severance of diplomatic relations
with the United States. That such
would be the result was taken for
granted in all neutral and belligerent
countries. Even in Germany the press
spoke OF its likelihood, and while it
deplored such a contingency, 1t
sought to prepare its readers for a
n
that the projected submarine warfare
was necessary for victory and should
be carried on regardless of the views
OF the United States.
In America there was only one
doubt in most persons minds, and that
was whether the break would come at
once or be delayed for a time by the
further exchange Of diplomatic cor
respondence. This almost universal
conviction was based on the unequi-
vocal position taken by the President
In the note sent by him to the German
government April Is, 1916. after the
loss Of American lives caused by the
sinking of the Sussex. en- that occa-
sion the United States said: 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 gov
eminent of the United States can have
no choice but to sever diplomatic relaS-
tons with the German empire alto
gether. This action the government Of
the United States contemplates with
the greatest reluctance but feels con-
strained to take in behalf of humanity
and the rights Of neutral nations.
Germany, in acceding to American
demands and giving the pledges we
asked in the matter of submarine war
fare implied that she yielded under
condition that we should bring the al
lies to observe the prescriptions Of in
ternational law; but the President
made 1t perfectly clear to Germany
at the time that the government OF the
United States refused to be bound by
any such condition. In q, note dated
May 8, 1916. the President said: In
order, however, to avoid any possible
misunderstanding the government Of
the United States notifies the imperial
government that 1t cannot for mo-
ment entertain, much less discuss, a
suggestion that respect by German
naval authorities for the rights of citi-
zens 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 govern
ment AFFECTING the rights Of neutrals
and non combatants. Responsibility
in such matters, declared the President
is single. not Joint; absolute, not rela-
tive.
Germany acquiesced for the time
being, or at least made no open pro-
test, and continued to respect the lives
of Americans on the high seas. That
she did not agree entirely to an UNI
reserved compliance with the Presi-
dents demand was made clear from
the statement In the second memoranL
dunn addressed to our government,
January 81, which says: The govern
ment of the United States will further
realize that the now openly disclosed
intentions Of the entente allies give
back to Germany the freedom of action
which she reserved in her note adj
dressed to the government of the
United States on May 4, 1916. This
announcement together with the state
ment that Germany proposed to prose-
cute the submarine warfare under con-
ditions whoch we had proclaimed
would necessitate the breaking Of Dip
lomatic relations between Germany
and the United States left the United
States only one course to pursue,
nounced to Germany and the world
in the note dated April IS. 1916. The
President took that action. He issued
orders on February 8, for the recall OF
Ambassador Gerard from Berlin, and
directed that passports be given AM
bassador Bernstorff. Shortly after
wards the President addressed joint
session of congress-, reviewed the con-
troversy and announced that diplo-
matte relations between the two coun-
tries had been severed. He expressed
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