WAR SEEMS INEVITABLE
Wilson Severs Relations With Kaiser
American Steamer Sunk by Submarine
WILSON READY TO FIGHT TO UPHOLD RIGHTS
President Warns Berlin Ruthless Campaign
Means America Will Throw Great Force on
Side of Allies.
In Impressive Address to Congress President
Tells of Course – and Is Cheered to Echo
Wilson in Address Tells Congress of Reasons for Break
“We don’t desire any hostile conflict with the imperial German government. We are the sincere friends of the German people and earnestly desire to remain at peace with the government which speaks for them. We shall not believe that they are hostile to us unless we are obliged to believe it, and we purpose nothing more than the reasonable defense of the undoubted rights of our people. We wish to serve no selfish ends. We seek merely to stand true in thought and in action to the immemorial principles of our people which I have sought to express in my address to the Senate only two weeks ago—seek merely to vindicate our right to liberty and justice and an unmolested life. These are the bases of peace, not war. God grant that we may not be challenged to defend them by acts of willful injustice on the part of the government of Germany.”
President Supported by Unanimous Cabinet
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.—The story of how President Wilson decided to break diplomatic relations with Germany became known tonight. The first news of the German note giving notice of the abandonment of restrictions on submarines, conveyed to the President by Secretary Tumulty on the basis of press dispatches, was received by Wilson with undisguised amazement. He thought Tumulty must be mistaken, but in a rew minutes came word that the note actually had been delivered to the state department. Yesterday, believing hasty judgments had sufficiently cooled to begin assessing the true situation, he laid it before the cabinet and asked the opinions of individual members. Already the opinion had formed that the course of the United States was almost inevitable, and in this he was supported by the cabinet officers. Then the President made his trip to the Capitol yesterday afternoon. He wanted members of the Senate to give him an idea of general public sentiment. Again his view was confirmed, for the great majority of the Senators favored an immediate break. The President saw no callers last night. Late into the night he worked on his speech to Congress and then went to bed. This morning he read the document over again and finally decided to take it to Congress.