Why did Germany agree to the Sussex Pledge?
The German General Staff did not want the US in the war. After Germany sank the French ship Sussex, Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany, the first step before declaring war, unless Germany agreed to stop the use of unrestricted submarine warfare. The German foreign office agreed to observed the rules of search or visit before attacking enemy ships that were not armed. This, Germany hoped, would appease the US and keep them out of the war.
