763.72/1866½
The Counselor for the Department of State
(Lansing)
to the Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo)
[Washington,]
June 7, 1915.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose a paragraph
embodying your oral suggestion made this evening which might find a
place in the note to Germany.
I am not entirely convinced that it is expedient, but it is certainly
worthy of careful consideration as it leaves the door open for further
discussion and it will be Germany’s responsibility if it is closed.
Cordially yours,
[File copy not signed]
[Enclosure]
Proposed Paragraph for Insertion in Note to
Germany
The Government of the U. S. nevertheless realizes that a belligerent
ought not to be deprived of the use of the submarine in its efforts
to interrupt commerce with the enemy provided the operations of the
submarine do not jeopardize human life or result in the
indiscriminate destruction of neutral property. The Govt. of the U.
S. is willing, therefore, to consider any suggestion, which the
German Imperial Government may see fit to make, looking toward a
modification of the existing rules of international law governing
naval warfare applicable to the use of submarines which will
efficiently safeguard the lives of persons and neutral property on
merchant vessels which are intercepted on the high seas.
