763.72/2322½
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: Thank you for letting me see the two letters from Colonel House, which I herewith return.
I tried to impress upon Bernstorff when I saw him the necessity of a speedy settlement of the Lusitania case. I have heard nothing from him since that conversation and shall write him today urging him to act in the matter. Something must be done before Congress assembles or else I am afraid we will have some embarrassing requests for the correspondence.
I think the time is very opportune for us to press compliance with our demands, with the success for the Teutonic arms in the Balkans and the wavering neutrality of Roumania and Greece the German Government could ill afford to have any sort of a break with this Government on account of the moral effect it would have.
In regard to the discussion relative to peace, I think that there is a possibility that it might work out along the lines suggested but there are so many problems connected with it—such as boundaries, colonial possessions and indemnities, that I hardly like to express an opinion until it takes more definite form.
In regard to the two questions which Colonel House asks in his second letter73 relative to the removal of certain persons connected with the Embassies and Consular Service of Germany and Austria-Hungary, I feel that the time is very near when some such step should be taken. As you know, we have been collecting and marshalling, as far as possible, the evidence which we have against the various individuals. While the proofs are not conclusive I think there is sufficient for action but I would prefer to submit to you the memorandum on the subject before any decision is reached.
In regard to severing diplomatic relations with Austria on account of the Ancona, you know how incomplete our information is. I hope that we may shortly have something definite from Vienna and from Rome also.
I am attending the Army-Navy football game in New York on Saturday and will remain over Sunday. Colonel House has been [Page 496] good enough to invite Mrs. Lansing and myself to luncheon Sunday, so I will have an opportunity to discuss these questions with him at length.
Faithfully yours,
- See Charles Seymour, The Intimate Papers of Colonel House, vol. II, p. 47.↩