I have, therefore, directed the Secretary of State to announce to his
Excellency 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American ambassador at Berlin will immediately be withdrawn, and, in
accordance with this decision, to hand to his Excellency his passports.
Notwithstanding this unexpected action of the German Government, this
sudden and deeply deplorable renunciation of its assurances, given
this Government at one of the most critical moments of tension in the
relations of the two Governments, I refuse to believe that it is the
intention of the German authorities to do in fact what they have
warned us they will feel at liberty to do. I cannot bring myself to
believe that they will indeed pay no regard to the ancient friendship
between their people and our own or to the solemn obligations which
have been exchanged between them and destroy American ships and take
the lives of American citizens in the wilful prosecution of the
ruthless naval program they have announced their intention to adopt.
Only actual overt acts on their part can make me believe it even now.