763.72/2653½
The Secretary of State to
President Wilson
Washington,
April 25, 1916.
My Dear Mr. President: In view of the press
despatches which are coming from Berlin—although we have received
nothing of an official nature indicating the course which the German
Government will pursue—I am convinced that there will be an attempt to
compromise in the declaration, if they do make any declaration in regard
to the abandonment of submarine warfare. Any conditions which they may
advance will undoubtedly be based upon their position as to armed and
unarmed merchant vessels.
It would seem to me a decided strategic advantage to have made known
clearly our position in regard to armed vessels before Germany presents
her reply. To do that it will be necessary for us to make public in some
way the memorandum which I sent you Monday morning, and which you
returned to me with your general approval. It could be done by a formal
statement issued from the Department; by sending the memorandum to the
various belligerents; or by sending it to the Committees on Foreign
Relations and Foreign Affairs in Congress. If it seems advisable to you
to do this it seems to me that the time to do it is at once, before we
receive Germany’s reply.
Faithfully yours,
P. S. Since writing the foregoing Mr. Polk has just handed me the
enclosed memorandum of a conversation over the telephone with
Colonel House this afternoon.
[Page 562]
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Counselor for the Department of
State (Polk)
[Washington,]
April 25, 1916.
Colonel House called me up this afternoon shortly after four and said
he had just had a conversation with the German Ambassador who had
heard from his Government. His Government is most anxious to avoid a
break and asked him what was the best course to pursue. They also
asked him what was meant by “illegal method of submarine warfare”.
These two questions will be answered by the Ambassador without going
to the Department of State.
His Government also wanted to know if they gave up submarine warfare
what the United States would do about the blockade.
Colonel House advised him to tell his Government not to send a note
suggesting a compromise, and, above all, not to raise any question
in regard to the blockade. He stated the only safe course to pursue
would be to advise the German Government to agree to discontinue
submarine warfare pending negotiations.
This the Ambassador said he would do at once, and also said he would
warn them not to send anything in the nature of a note. In regard to
the Blockade, Colonel House pointed out that our relations, as far
as Great Britain is concerned, are quite different from our
relations with Germany; that war with Germany would be possible,
whereas, war with Great Britain was more or less out of the
question. This the Ambassador said he understood.
Colonel House thought it advisable to issue at the earliest possible
moment the memorandum on armed merchant vessels, a copy of which he
had seen. He suggested that it be issued tonight for the morning
papers, but I told him in the absence of the President that was
impossible. He urged that the matter be presented to the President
with the suggestion that the memorandum be given out not later than
in time for the afternoon papers Wednesday.
He suggested one or two changes in the wording of the memorandum.
These changes have been called to your attention and have been
made.
