Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-04

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Prcsiden
Wilson. in his historic address To th'
joint session OF congress this after
noon, in which ne announced tn,
severance Of diplomatic relations witt
Germany and told why 1t was neces
sary- spoke as follows:
"Gentlemcn of the Congress:
THE imperial German government
on the 3lst OF January announced e
this government and 10 the govern
ments of the other neutral nations
that On and after the 1st day of Feb
ruary. the present month. 1t woulc
adopt n policy with regard to the use
Of submarines against all shippinf
seeking TO pass thru certain desig'
rated Ircas OF the high seas, to whicl
II Is clearly my duty TO call your at
tcntion.
Let me remind the congress thai
on the sth OF April last. I'm view OF
the sinking On the 24tG of March ol
the cross channel passenger steamer
Sussex by Il German submarine with
out summons or warning and the con.
scquont loss of lives OF several citi'
zens of the United states who were
passengers aboard her, this govern
nent addressed "A note OF the imperial
German government, In which II mad,
the following declaration:
If. II is still the purpose OF
the imperial German government
to prosecute relentless and indis-
crlminate warfare against vessels
of commerce by the use Of suh-
marines without regard TO what
the government: of the United
states must consider the sacred
and indisputabla rights on inter-
national law and the universally
recognized dictates OF humanity,
the government. of the United
states Is at last forced to the con-
clusiOn that there is but one
course II can pursue. Unless the
in perial government should now
Immediately declare in effect an
abandonment OF It's present
methods of submarine warfare
against passenger aud freight
CARRYING vessels. the government
of the United states can have no
choice hut TO sever diplomatic re-
latiOns with the German empire
altogether
'In reply 20 the declaration the
imrerial German government gave
this government the following as
SuranCcS:
1.-The German government is
prepared to do its utmost to con
fine the operations of war for the
rest of its duration to the fight-
ing forces of the belligerents,
thereby also insuring the freedom
of the seas. a principle upon
which the German government
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 or
ders:
"In accordance with the gem
eral principles of visit and search
and destruction of merchant ves-
sells recognized by international
law, such vessels, both within and
without the area declared a naval
war zone shall not be sunk with
out warning and without saving
human lives unless these ships at
tempt to escape or offer resist
ance.
But it added. 'neutrals can.
not expect that Germany. forced
to fight for her existence, shall
for the sake Of neutral interest
restrict the use OF an effective
weapon if her enemy is permit
ted to continue to apply at will
methods of warfare violating the
rules of international law Such
demand would be Incompatible
with the character of neutrality.
and the German government is
convinced that the government of
the United States does not think
of making such a demand, know
ing that the government of the
United States has repeatedly de-
clared that IL is determined to re-
store the principle of the freedom
of the seas, from whatever quar-
ter IL has been violated