File No. 768.72112/12930a
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State of a conference with the British Ambassador (Spring Rice) at the British Embassy, October 2, 1914, 9 p.m.
The suggestions in my “personal and confidential” letter of the 3d [2d] were discussed.
The Ambassador said that he personally considered the suggestions an excellent solution of the difficulties raised by the order in council of August 20, and that he would present them to his Government by telegraph. He said that he did not think that the Foreign Office appreciated that Germany and Austria had agreed to abide by the Declaration of London if the Allies also agreed; that he fully understood the great advantage it would be to have a uniform code of naval warfare; and that he realized the especial importance of it to the United States in order that Americans [Page 242] engaged in commerce with belligerents would know exactly what they might rely upon as a measure of their rights and duties as neutrals.
In view of the importance of submitting these considerations to the Foreign Office before any steps were taken in London to modify the order in council of August 20, the Ambassador said that he would draft a telegram to Sir Edward Grey at once, and he asked me to remain until the telegram was drafted.
He then proceeded to draft a telegram along the lines of the suggestions in my letter to him. This we went over together and made certain changes, and the Ambassador added a statement of his own as to the satisfaction with which an unqualified acceptance of the declaration by Great Britain and her allies would be received in this country.
The Ambassador said that he would send me a copy of the telegram as sent the next morning.