The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-06

United States Into world Conflict
warns Kaiser Ruthless Sacrifice
Of American Lives and Rights Means
War.
Washington, Feb. 3.-The severance
of diplomatic relations with Germany
was formally announced to the couA-
try and the world by President VIII
son at a joint session of congress at
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 TAX
en-, President Wilson detailed to the
congress why the United States should
not continue relations with warning
power which repeatedly invades Amer
ica's sacred rights and takes the lives
of it's citizens.
Calm with sense of right in what
may prove the most somber moment
of American history, the president
stood in the historic hall Of the house
of Representatives and with senator's
and representatives before him spoke
the words which may carry the coun-
try into the world conflict, not for
aggression 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 Presi-
dent 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 Of January announced TO
this government and to the govern
ments of other neutral nations that
on and after the first day Of February,
the present month, it would adopt a
policy with regard to the use Of sub
marines against all shipping seeking
to pass through certain designated
areas of the high seas, 10 which it is
clearly my duty to call your atten-
ton.
'Let me remind the congress that
on the 8th of April last in view OF
the sinking on the 24th OF March OF
the cross-chanGel passenger steamer
Sussex by German submarine, with
out summons or warning, and the con-
sequent loss Of lives Of several clti-
zens OF the United States Wnc were
passengers aboard her, this govern
ment addressed note to the lmpe-
rial Government in which it made the
following declaration:
"lf il 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 regard
to what the Government Of the United
States must consider the sacred ana
indisputable rules Of international law
and the universally recognized die
tates OF humanity, the Government OF
the United States is at last forced to
the conclusion that there is but one
course it can pursue. Unless the Ina
perial Government should now i'm
mediately declare and effect an aban-
donment of its present methods OF
submarine warfare against passeh-
ger and freight-carrying vessels, the
Government of the United States can
have no choice but to sever diplomatic
relations with the German Empire
altogether.
Germany's Assurances.
"In reply to this decision the Impe-
rial German Government gave this
government the following assurance:
1.-The German Government is pre-
pared to do it's utmost to conflne the
operations of war for the rest Of its
duration to the fighting forces of the
belligerents. thereby also insuring the
freedom Of the seas, principle upon
which the German Government be-
lieves now, as before, to be in agree
ment with the Government Of the Unit
ed States.
""The Conan Government Guided
hv this, notifies the Government Of the
United States that the German nava!
forces have received the following Or
ders:
"In accordance with the general
visit and search for the destruction OF
merchant vessels recognized nv inte~-
national law, such vessels, both with
in and without the area declared as
naval war zone, shall not be sunk
without warning and without Swing
human lives, unless these ships at
terrt to escape or offer resistance.
maRnt II q dHnd tne11trals cannot eY-