File No. 763.72/1924
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard)
1918. Your 2543, 2544, and 2548. You are instructed to convey unofficially to the Imperial Government that the President is determined not to surrender or compromise in any way the rights of the United States or of its citizens as neutrals or enter into discussion which might be construed into such surrender or compromise. At the same time you may express the hearty willingness of this Government to exercise its good offices with the object of effecting any arrangement which will lessen the dangers to non-belligerents in traversing the high seas.
In presenting these views you will keep entirely distinct these two things, namely, our rights, which this Government can in no way abate, and our services as friends of the belligerent powers. You may add that this Government is willing to consider and discuss any proposal or suggestion which is reasonable and practicable to discuss unless its purpose is to curtail the clear and established rights of the United States or of its citizens.