763.72/2580a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I have been going over the ending of the instruction to Gerard in the submarine matter and I am more and more convinced that the formula which you propose in your redraft, beginning—“Unless the Imperial Government should now, etc.”, raises some serious objections.37
In the first place, the phrase—“return to a scrupulous observance of the principles clearly prescribed by the law of nations”—offers an opportunity to raise the question as to what are the clearly prescribed principles. As you know, these are not very well defined except as to visit and search. In addition to this, the whole question of the treatment of armed and unarmed merchantmen will be raised. There is a decided difference of opinion as to the conversion of a merchant vessel into a warship. I am afraid if we employ that language that we will be involved, unavoidably, in a discussion of that question, which I assume we both wish to avoid. Any phrase which raises a reasonable difference of opinion invites discussion, and the word “immediately” would be nullified.
If we are to follow, substantially, the language of the redraft, I would suggest its amendment as follows:
“Unless the Imperial Government immediately declares that it abandons its present method of submarine warfare against passenger [Page 550] and freight-carrying vessels, the Government of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire.”
I am always at your service to discuss this matter, when you desire to do so.
Faithfully yours,