Today is Friday, Feb. 3, the 34th day of 2017. There are 331 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On Feb. 3, 1917, the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, which had announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, the same day an American cargo ship, the SS Housatonic, was sunk by a U-boat off Britain after the crew was allowed to board lifeboats.

On this date

In 1783, Spain formally recognized American independence.

In 1867, Crown Prince Mutsuhito became Japan’s 122nd emperor at age 14 four days after the death of his father, Emperor Komei. Emperor Meiji, as he’s posthumously known, oversaw Japan’s transition from a feudal state to a capitalist world power.)

In 1877, the song “Chopsticks,” written by 16-yearold Euphemia Allen under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli, was deposited at the British Museum under the title “The Celebrated Chop Waltz.”

In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for a federal income tax, was ratified.

In 1924, the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, died in Washington, D.C., at age 67.

In 1930, the chief justice of the United States, William Howard Taft, resigned for health reasons.

The Associated Press