763.72111/1930
The Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose a draft reply13 to the note and memorandum of the German Ambassador of the 4th instant.14
The memorandum impresses me as couched in language, which is unpardonable in the insinuations which it contains as to the motives of this Government, and which therefore deserves some rebuke. The [Page 118] fact is that Count von Bernstorff, by making this memorandum public without seeking your consent, has acted in a manner almost as improper and offensive as did Rustem Bey.15 I believe that it should be seriously considered whether he ought not to be called personally to account for this breach of diplomatic etiquette.
In any event our reply, in my opinion, should show displeasure at his criticisms and should decline to debate the subject with him. Any treatment more moderate than this would, I believe, displease the American people who are jealous of our national dignity and expect our Government to maintain it.
The course which the Ambassador has taken in this matter indicates to my mind that the memorandum was prepared with the intention of publishing it as an arraignment of the Administration in order that German sympathizers in this country may be aroused to stronger political hostility to the Government. It is in entire accord with the Dernberg-Münsterberg-Fatherland propaganda.
Neither the dignity of the Government nor political expediency seems to me to warrant a conciliatory reply to the memorandum.
It is with these thoughts in mind that I drafted the reply.
Faithfully yours,
- Not printed; for text of the note as sent, see ibid., p. 160.↩
- Ibid., p. 157.↩
- See pp. 68–75.↩