Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1917 — BERNSTORFF HAS HIS PASSPORTS [ARTICLE]

BERNSTORFF HAS HIS PASSPORTS

Relations Between United States and Germany Acute. GERARD TO RETURN HOME President Asks; AH Neutrals to Join This Nation in Repudiating Germany’s Submarine Course. President Wilson bn Saturday broke off diplomatic relations with Germany and warned the kaiser that ruthless sacrifice of American lives and rights means war. Similar action is waiting for Austria when she notifies this government that she joins in the campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare. The President made formal announcement of his action to the country and to the world at a joint session of congress. Passports have been handed to Count von Bernstorff; Ambassador 0.Gerard with all his staff and all of the American consuls have been ordered out of Germany. All German consuls in the United States are expected to withdraw that the severance of relations may be complete. American diplomatic interests in Berlin have been turned over to Spain; German diplomatic interests in the United States have been tdken over by Switzerland. Foreign diplomatic interests which the United States had in charge in Germany have been turned over to various neutrals. Two years of diplomatic negotiations, marked with frequent crises and attended with the loss of more than 200 American lives on the high seas, have culminated with an act which, in all the history of the world, has always led to war. Every agency of the American government has been set in motion to protect the country against acts of German sympathizers. These moves are of necessity being kept secret. With the notice of severance of relations, the United States sent to Berlin a demand for the immediate release of sixty-four Americans taken from ships captured by German raiders in the south Atlantic. At the request of the President, congress immediately after hearing his address began work on new laws framed by the department or justice to check conspiracies and plots against the United States which can not now be reached under existing statutes. While the United States stands before the world court of public opinion in the anxious waiting period which will determine peace or war with Germany, President Wilson is determined that there shall be no w'ord or deed to merit a reproach, even from Germany herself. Nothing is to be done which is not fully justified by the laws of nations a,nd humanity, nothing is to be done for expediency, nothing is to be done which is not legal and just. With a hope for peace, and a readiness to meet war if it must be, the President has made it clear to all his officials that the course of the United States, difficult as it is, must be entirely beyond criticism." To that end, German rights and property in the United States are to have full protection of law, /and the President wishes every American citizen to forbear from any thought or act which might lead his country nearer to war. Hope that Germany might at the last moment modify her declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare was almost dissipated yesterday by hews dispatches from Berlin which gave the word of high German officials that there would be no turning back. With that hope waning, American officials now only await an actual demonstration of how the new decree will affect American rights. The United States government has assumed control over all interned German ships now in the harbors of this country. It was learned that in some instances efforts had been made to strip the

machinery and render Jlhe vessels temporarily useless, hence the action of this government. The .German press as a rule throughout the'country announces thv 'readiness of German-Americans in . this,country to stand behind the J resident and tOA-fi'gff: for America if necessary On the other hand. . there are' a ' very :ew that claim a war with Germany could not result • favorable to. this country. The governors of every state i—the Union have wired the President endorsing his stand and proclaim their rea'diness to stand behind him. -In many of the states where the stat% legislatures are in session, including Indiana, those bodies adopted resolutions endorsing the act of the President. It is probable that the Indiana soldiers will be called nut in a few days, unless something unfOrseen takes place in the meantime. This would mean that -company M of Rensselaer would also be called. If actual war. results it would be for the presept at least naval warfare.