File No. 763.72/1918
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5, 9 a. m.]
2543. I have seen draft of note. After friendly phrases, etc., reference to Germany’s willingness to adopt Declaration of London, recital of grievances against England, statement that commander of submarine which sank Lusitania was in doubt whether to sacrifice lives or allow ammunition to pass which would kill thousands of Germans, makes following four propositions:
- (1)
- Germany repeats the assurances that American ships and lives of American citizens on neutral ships will not be endangered.
- (2)
- In order to exclude American passenger ships from unforeseen accidents which are incidental to the practice of sea war as carried on by our enemies, the German submarines will be ordered to let pass free and safely such passenger steamers as are distinguished by special signs and notified beforehand in proper time. The German Government permits itself to take it for granted that the American Government will guarantee that these ships do not carry contraband. Details to be settled for such unhampered voyages by marine authorities of both countries.
- (3)
- In order to provide a sufficient opportunity for American citizens to cross the Atlantic the German Government invites the consideration of the augmenting of the number of these steamers to a number sufficient for the traffic by the addition of neutral steamers under the American flag under the same conditions as for American steamers.
- (4)
- If this in the view of the American Government should not be sufficient for the needs of the passenger service, the Imperial Government is quite ready to discuss in a friendly manner the use of belligerent ships which in such case should be put under the American flag.
I said, speaking on my own personal responsibility alone and not officially, that I did not think this satisfactory; that it did not answer Lusitania question at all and in section (2) assumed to expect that our Government would forbid our ships to carry contraband which I did not for a moment believe would be done. After some talk learned that there is a possibility that for section (4) a section [Page 460] might be substituted offering not to fire without notice on belligerent passenger ships which are guaranteed not to be carriers of arms and ammunition or possibly absolute contraband, American Government to see that British Government guarantees that such ships will not be armed and will not ram submarines when exercising right of visit and search. Possibly one such ship per week each way on Atlantic, similar arrangements for other routes. Also that section (2) might be amended so as to provide that German Government would express hope, not make condition, that such American ships given free passage would not be permitted to carry, say arms and ammunition, or possibly absolute contraband. This would leave American ships free to pass even when carrying conditional contraband.
Germans not good compromisers or suggestors. Wish you could send me some ideas relative to these propositions. Chancellor and Foreign Office anxious for peace but opposed by formidable opposition and public opinion. Draft of note stated submarine captain did not expect Lusitania to sink so quickly. If you cable me that you intend to enforce international law as it stands and require that American passengers on a belligerent passenger or merchant ship shall be first put in safety and will entertain no compromise, this although it appears in your previous notes may have a good effect. I was again told to-day that they do not believe we will declare war and that a break of diplomatic relations amounts to nothing.