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| 1917, Jan. 8 |
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| A meeting of the highest military and civil officials of Germany, at Pless, finally concluded that the unrestricted use of the submarine was the only method by which Britain could be brought to its knees. It was understood that the decision would probably mean war with the U.S., but it was felt that the conflict would be over before the full weight of America could be thrown in. The chancellor, Bethmann-Hollweg, and men like Helfferich were not convinced of the soundness of the policy but offered no other solution. To counterbalance the hostility of the U.S., the foreign minister, Arthur von Zimmermann, sent instructions to the German minister in Mexico to work for an alliance with Mexico and Japan directed against the U.S. (Jan. 19). | 1 |
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| Jan. 31 |
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| The U.S. was notified that unrestricted submarine war would begin on Feb. 1 (See 1917, Jan. 8). | 2 |
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| Feb. 3 |
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| The U.S. government severed relations with the German government. In response to an appeal from Wilson, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and other Latin American states followed suit. So did China (March 14). | 3 |
| The president had decided not to declare war until the Germans had committed an overt act. Several American ships were in fact sunk during February and March. At the same time the British secret service intercepted and deciphered the Zimmermann note, revealing German plans against the U.S. | 4 |
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| April 6 |
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| The U.S. DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY, following the president's war message to the Senate (April 2). War was not declared on Austria-Hungary until Dec. 7, 1917. | 5 |
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