763.72111/3139
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I enclose to you a letter which I received yesterday from the German Ambassador60 in reply to one which I sent him, stating that I considered it inadvisable to ask for a postponement [Page 217] of the trial of the officials of the Hamburg-American Line for violation of our laws.
I confess that I felt a measure of irritation at the point of view which the Ambassador took in his letter, but have not allowed it to influence my proposed reply to him, of which I sent you a copy.61
As the cases of these officials have gone to trial in New York I hope that you can return the proposed answer at the earliest possible moment in order that the Ambassador may not complain of delay in setting forth the position of the Department in regard to his arguments for further postponement.
I believe nothing will be lost by telling him frankly what we think of his attitude in this matter.
Faithfully yours,