AMERICA AND GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16675, 22 April 1916, Page 7

AMERICA AND GERMANY

PEREMPTORY NOTE FORWARDED. SITUATION GRAVE. WASHINGTON, April 19. President Wilson has despatched another Note to Germany warning her that, unless her attacks on merchantmen carrying Americans cease, diplomatic relations will be severed. A Itouter message adds that an immediate ans\yer to the Note is demanded. The States has despatched the Note to Germany. Tho situation is grave. President Wilson has cancelled all engagements, and is closeted with the Foreign Affairs Committee. A VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM. STATEMENT TO CONGRESS. IRREVOCABLE NOTICE. WASHINGTON, April 19. President Wilson, addressing Congress, told them that it was a virtual ultimatum that had been sent to Germany. He did not ask for any action by Congress, simply informing them of the accumulation of evidence showing that Germany's assurances to the United States were being violated, and that the submarine campaign had been renewed with vigour. He reiterated the opinion he expressed after the sinking of the Lusitania—i.e., that it was impossible to conduct an indiscriminate submarine warfare like Germany's in accordance with the lawi of nations and tho laws of humanity. President Wilson told Congress that he had given Germany irrevocable notice that, unless the submarine campaign .ceases, America will break off diplomatic relations. President Wilson has not yet asked Congress to taka any action, preferring to wait until Germany's final answer is received. The stock market is much agitated. TERMS OF THE NOTE. PRESS GENERALLY APPROVE. IDEA OF WAR NOT WELCOME. WASHINGTON, April 19. President Wilson, in a message to Congress, recited how the United States has continually protested against the German outrages, how patiently each fresh outrage has been received, how all rules of humanity have been violated, how Americans had been murdered indiscriminately, and how no disavowals on the part of the German Government have been of any use. Proceeding, President Wilson says : " I have deemed it my duty to say to the Imperial German Government that if it is still its purpose to prosecute a relentless and indiscriminate war, the Government of the United States is forced to the conclusion that there is but one ooutse I can pursue, and that unless the Imperial German Government should now immediately declare and effect the abandonment of its present methods of warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels, this Government will have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations altogether." The press generally approves of the tone of the Note.' The idea of war, however, is not welcomed. » SILENT RECEPTION. OPPOSITION EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. ADDRESS REFEPuRED TO COMMITTEE. WASHINGTON, April 19. Intense interest has been aroused by President Wilson's declaration. Congress received the Message silently, without a sign of applause. It is believed that considerable opposition will develop against the President's attitude. Members, cheered when President Wilson ended with the words that he hoped that Germany would so act as to prevent a break with America. President Wilson's address was referred to the Committee of Foreign' Affairs. AMERICA AND THE WAR. SPEECH BY PRESIDENT WILSON. TRADITION OF UNSELFISHNESS. HER PLACE AMONG THE NATIONS. i , WASHINGTON, April 19. Addressing a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution, President Wilson declared that the only excuse the United States ever had to fight would be intervention in the cause of humanity. He added : " America will have forgotten her traditions if she fights merely for herself. She must not fight under conditions that would show that we have forgotten the traditions of a nation which was formed for the purpose of serving the rest of mankind as much as itself, and" to afford an asylum for all men. The birth of this nation was significant, because no other nation was ever born into the world for the purpose of serving mankind. If we forget the traditions of our fathers, we shall at once change our characters, and will become unconscious of those principles wherein the life of the nation is jrooted. What a splendid ftiing it is to have so singular a tradition of unselfishness! When the United States ceases to be unselfish she will cease to be America. When she forgets her tradition of devotion to human rights in general she will have lost the title deeds of her own nationality." NEWSPAPER OPINION. NOTE SOLIDLY SUPPORTED. NEW YORK, April 20. (Received April 21, at 5.5 p.m.) Newspapers of all shades solidly support President Wilson's Note. * The consensus of opinion is that President Wilson has suffered long under unprecedented provocations, and that issue is not squarely in his hands. GERMAN-AMERICAN AITITUDE. DENUNCIATORY TONE. WASHINGTON, April 20. (Received April 21, at 5.5 p.m.) The State Department does not expect an early reply from Germany, owing to the Easter holidays intervening. Mr Lansing is ready to wait a week if necessary. German-American opinion has been aroused, denouncing Mr Wilson as the friend of Britain. Much opposition is likely to develop in Congress. The Bryianites are already denouncing the idea of war. WHEN PARLIAMENT MEETS. What will happen? Let the political seers give full voice to their prophecies, let them write long screeds of gossip—and heed them not. Wo must perforce possess our souls in patiencc, and we will learn in good time what is to be done. 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