763.72112/133½a
The Acting Secretary of State to President Wilson
Dear Mr. President: The Department has received numerous inquiries and complaints in regard to the effect upon the neutrality of the United States of the sale of contraband articles to belligerents. Yesterday I also had a talk with Senator Stone in regard this matter and he said that the fact it was permitted by this Government was being used as a political argument among the Germans of St. Louis.
In view of these facts it seemed to me that it might be desirable to issue a public statement upon the subject in order that this misapprehension as to the unneutrality of sales of contraband articles might be removed. Before doing this I thought you should be consulted in the matter, and I therefore submit for your consideration a public statement upon the subject. If this meets with your approval I will show it to Senator Stone, who requested the privilege of seeing it before it was issued.1
Very sincerely yours,
- For the statement as issued, see Foreign Relations, 1914, supp., p. 573.↩