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Thus understanding our duty and Brazil taking the position to which its antecedents and the conscience of a free people pointed, whatever fate the morrow may have in store for us, we shall conserve the constitution which governs us and which has not yet been surpassed in the guaranties due to the rights, lives, and property of foreigners.

In bringing the above-stated resolution to Your Excellency's knowledge, I beg you to be pleased to convey to your Government the sentiments of unalterable friendship of the Brazilian people and Govern

ment.

I avail myself of the opportunity to reiterate to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

DOMICIO DA GAMA.

The Acting Secretary of State of the United States to the

EXCELLENCY:

Brazilian Ambassador

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of June 4 by which, in pursuance of instructions from the President of Brazil, you inform me of the enactment of a law revoking Brazil's declaration of neutrality in the war between the United States and Germany and request me to convey to this Government the sentiments of unalterable friendship of the Brazilian people and Government.

I have received with profound gratification this notification of the friendly coöperation of Brazil in the efforts of the United States to assist in the perpetuation of the principles of free government and the preservation of the agencies for the amelioration of the sufferings and losses of war so slowly and toilfully built up during the emergence of mankind from barbarism.

Your Government's invaluable contribution to the cause of American solidarity, now rendered more important than ever as a protection to civilization and a means of enforcing the laws of humanity, is highly appreciated by the United States.

I shall be glad if you will be good enough to convey to the President, the Government, and the people of Brazil the thanks of this Government and people for their course, so consistent with the antecedents of your great and free nation and so important in its bearing on issues which are vital to the welfare of all the American Republics.

Requesting that you will also assure your Government and people of most cordial reciprocation by the Government and people of the

United States of their assurances of friendship, always so greatly valued, and now happily rendered still warmer and closer by the action of Brazil, I avail myself of the occasion to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

FRANK L. POLK,

Acting Secretary of State.

SIR,

DECLARATION OF WAR BY CHINA ON GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

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The Chinese Minister at Washington to the Secretary of State
August 14, 1917

In pursuance of instructions from my Government, I have the honor to inform you that China having previously broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, after protesting in vain against the policy of submarine warfare adopted by the central powers of Europe, in the hope that Germany might change that policy out of consideration for the adverse opinion of the world, now the Government of the Republic, having been disappointed in this hope, in order to manifest proper respect for the law of nations and to protect the lives and property and its citizens, declares that a state of war exists with Germany and AustriaHungary from 10 o'clock in the forenoon of the 14th instant, and that it will observe all the stipulations of the conventions signed at the International Peace Conferences at The Hague and other international agreements relating to civilized warfare.

Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. VI KYUIN WELLINGTON KOO.

1 Official Bulletin, Washington, August 17, 1917.

MESSAGE FROM THE GERMAN EMPEROR TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE WHICH

UNITED STATES REGARDING
PRECEDED THE WAR

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CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS

SECRETARY OF STATE, Washington:

BERLIN VIA COPENHAGEN,

Dated August 14, 1914,
Recd. August 15, 7.30 p.m.

August 14, 3 p.m.

The following was communicated personally to me by the Emperor in writing:

"Private and confidential.

"For the President personally.

"One. The Royal Highness Prince Henry was received by His Majesty King George V in London, who empowered him to transmit to me verbally that England would remain neutral if war broke out on the continent involving Germany and France, Austria and Russia. This message was telegraphed to me by my brother from London after his conversation with His Majesty the King and repeated verbally on the 29th July.

"Two. My ambassador in London transmitted a message from Sir Edward Grey to Berlin saying that only in case France was likely to be crushed England would interfere.

"Three. On the 30th my ambassador in London reported that Sir Edward Grey, in the course of a private (sic) conversation, told him that if the conflict remained localized between Russia- not Servia and Austria, England would not move, but if we mixed in the fray, she would take quick decisions and grave maneuvers; in other words, if I left my ally, Austria, in the lurch to fight alone England would not touch me. "Four. This communication being directly counter to the King's message to me, I telegraphed to His Majesty on the 29th or 30th thanking him for kind message through my brother and begging him to use all his power to keep France and Russia, his allies, from making any warlike preparations calculated to disturb my work on mediation, stating that I was in constant communication with His Majesty the Czar. In the evening the King kindly answered that he had ordered his Government to use every possible influence with his allies to repudiate taking 1 Official Bulletin, Washington, August 14, 1917.

any provocative military measures. At the same time His Majesty asked me I should transmit to Vienna the British proposal that Austria was to take Belgrade and a few other Servian towns and a strip of country as a main mise (sic) to make sure that the Servian promises on paper should be fulfilled in reality. This proposal was in the same moment telegraphed to me from Vienna for London quite in conjunction with the British proposal; besides I had telegraphed to His Majesty the Czar the same as an idea of mine before I received the two communications from Vienna and London. As both were of the same opinion, I immediately transmitted the telegrams vice versa to Vienna and London. I felt that I was able to tide the question over and was happy at the peaceful outlook.

"Five. While I was preparing a note to His Majesty the Czar the next morning to inform him that Vienna, London, and Berlin were agreed about the treatment of affairs, I received the telephone message from his excellency the chancellor that in the night before, the Czar had given the order to mobilize the whole of the Russian Army, which was of course also meant against Germany; whereas up till then the southern armies had been mobilized against Austria.

"Six. In a telegram from London my ambassador informed me he understood British Government would guarantee neutrality of France and wished to know whether Germany would refrain from attack. I telegraphed to His Majesty the King personally that mobilization being already carried out could not be stopped, but if His Majesty could guarantee with his armed forces the neutrality of France, I would refrain from attacking her, leave her alone, and employ my forces elsewhere. His Majesty answered that he thought my offer was based on a misunderstanding, and as far as I can make out Sir Edward Grey never took my offer into serious consideration. He never answered it. Instead he declared England had to defend Belgian neutrality, which had to be violated by Germany on strategical grounds, news having been received that France was already preparing to enter Belgium and the King of the Belgians having refused my petition for a free passage under guarantee of his country's freedom. I am most grateful for the President's message. Wilhelm."

GERARD,

American Chargé d'Affaires, Copenhagen.

SEVERANCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN LIBERIA AND

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GERMANY

SIR,

The Secretary of State of Liberia to the German Consul at Monrovia

May 5, 1917

As the policies of a nation must always be adjusted to meet new conditions affecting its vital interests, as they arise from time to time, so the transpiring of certain events, in connection with the Great European war which has staggered humanity in its ruthless operations and stupendous financial output, have rendered necessary a change of Liberia's attitude of strict neutrality, hitherto assumed and consistently maintained. I refer to the new German submarine program, drawn up by the Imperial German Government and put into execution on the 1st day of February of the present year, the detailed operations of which you are very well conversant with and informed.

While Liberia has endeavored to stand aloof from a conflict, the original causes of which were of purely European concern and interest, yet the method adopted by the Imperial German Government and its allies to vindicate what they conceive to be their national rights and honor and to bring to their arms a speedy and successful victory by such means as the sinking of unarmed ships of their enemies and neutrals. without warning, the bombardment of undefended towns and villages, and the violation of the rights of small neutral States, are such flagrant violations of the rules of civilized warfare as to justly create on the part of Liberia grave apprehensions and fears of the eventual permanent establishment of the doctrine of "might" over "right" in the realms of international relations, which doctrine, if allowed to obtain, can only result in the complete subjugation and elimination from the sisterhood of nations of all small and weak States.

Hence the Government and people of Liberia cannot any longer, in their own interest, continue to view with indifference and unconcern the present world's cataclysm, especially since the new German submarine program seriously threatens the lives of Liberian citizens traveling on the high seas as passengers and crew on allied and neutral ships.

Although Liberia is fully conscious of her utter inability to enforce, upon any of the belligerent nations, respect and due regard for the rights 1 Official Bulletin, Washington, July 10, 1917.

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