Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-02-08
Wilson Sewers Did,
|0matiC Relations,
Won BERNS1ORFF TO GO
German Ambassador Given His
Passports and Gerard Is
Recalled From Berlin.

Washington, Feb. 3.-Diplomatic re.
lations with Germany have been brok-
en- Off.
President Wilson, in a personal adj
dress to a joint session Of congress,
announced the American governments
answer to Germany's declaration of
ruthless submarine warfare.
Ambassador Gerard has been in
structed to ask the German foreign
office for his passports. Passports
have been sent to Count o Bern
storff.
Ambassador Gerard's instructions
are to close his embassy, as we'll as
all the consulates in Germany. All
embassy attaches, consuls. consular
agents and their stats are to be
brought out of Germany This makes
the severance of relations more COM
plete than is usual in such cases.
The United States has formally de-
manded Of Germany the immediate
release of the Americans who were
taken prisoners on prize ships by the
raiders in the South Atlantic.
In all there were sixtv-four Ameri-
Mount Temple and Noltaire. Sixty of
the prisoners are confined in the pris-
on camp at Duelmen in Wostfalen.
Germanv's diplomatic interests in
the United States will be assumed by
the Swiss legation. Spain will take
Owe the diplomatic interests of the
United States in Berlin.
Reasons for the Break.
In his address to congress President
Wilson detailed his negotiations with
Germany over submarine abuses and
old of the assurances made by the
German government following the
sex without warning. resulting in the
loss Of several American lives. Con-
corning the German lot of Jan. 81,
1917, declaring for unrestricted use OF
the submarine, the president says:
II think that you will agree with me
that. in view Of this declaration, in
which suddenly and without prior init
nation Germany withdraws the SOL
cmn assurance given in the imperial
governments note OF May 4, 1916, this
government has no alternative COM
petent with the dignity and honor Of
course which, in its note of the 18th
Of April, 1916, it announced it would
take in the event hat the German
government did not declare and effec.
an abandonment of the methods of
submarine warfare which it was then
employing and to which it now pur-
poses to again resort.
Il have, therefore, directed the sec
rotary of state to announce to his ex.
Cellencv. 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 immediate
ly be withdrawn, and in accordance
with this decision to hand &c his eX
cellency his passports.
Doubts Threat Will Be Carried Out.
Notwithstanding this expected eff
feet upon the German government this
sudden and ~deplorable remuneration
Of its assurances given by Berlin Al
one Of the most critical periods OF re
lations between the two governments
I refuse to believe hat it is the inten
ton OF the German authorities to dc
in effect what they have warned u!
they will feel at liberty to do.
II nj bring myself to believe
that they will indeed pay no regard t;
the ancient friendship between thei
people and our own or to the solemn
obligations which have been exchang
ed between them and destroy Amer
lean ships and take the lives of Amer
lean citizens in the willful prosecution
Of the ruthless naval program the
have announced their intention L
adopt. Only actual overt acts o:
their part can make me believe it eve
then.
I'VE wish to serve no selfish ends
We merely wish observance of tn
immemorial principles Of our people
which | sought to express in my aG
dress to the senate only two week
ago. God grant we may not be cha
lenged to defend our rights by acts c
willful injustice or the part of tn
sc vcrnment of Germany"