701.6311/271
President Wilson to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: This is certainly a most delicate and embarrassing situation, but I see only one thing we can do. There is no choice in the circumstances but to say to Count Tarnowski that the explicit acceptance and avowal by his Government of the policy which led to our breach of diplomatic relations with Germany (before the policy had been put into operation) makes it impossible, to our sincere regret, that I should receive him.
This announcement to him (I think it should not until absolutely necessary be made public) can of course be made in the most friendly [Page 634] spirit; and he can be told that we will relieve the embarrassment at Vienna by recalling Mr. Penfield so soon as he (Tarnowski) has heard from his Government and received its instructions.
All of this, I take it for granted, will be at once communicated to Mr. Penfield and he will be told to hold himself in readiness to receive instructions as to himself, pending Vienna’s reply to Tarnowski.
In any case Penfield should express again to Count Czernin our deep regret that the Austro-Hungarian Government should have felt itself obliged to join Germany in its sub-marine policy and so interrupt relations which we had hoped might remain friendly in form as well as in fact. In short, he ought to make it plain to Count Czernin that we are acting without feeling in this matter, and merely on principle.
Faithfully yours,