763.72111/1930
The Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: Since I handed you the draft note in reply to the German memorandum of April 4th, I have been wondering whether it would not be advisable to ask Count von Bernstorff if he acted under instructions in delivering the memorandum. If he did, he is in a measure relieved of personal responsibility though the affront to this Government would, it seems to me, be more serious and more difficult to deal with.
The more I study the memorandum the more unpardonable its language seems. It is not only an arraignment of the Government for unneutrality, but by comparing the President’s attitude towards the exportation of arms to Mexico and his attitude towards exportations in the present war it insinuates that the President is acting inconsistently and with manifest partiality.
Not only is any reference to the President in a communication of this sort a breach of diplomatic propriety, but an insinuation that he has acted in an unfair way, aggravates the breach.
[Page 119]For these reasons, if for no others, I think that we ought to know definitely whether the Ambassador or his Government is responsible for the memorandum, and I, therefore, enclose a draft note to Count von Bernstorff on the subject,16 which could be delivered before the reply to the memorandum is sent.
Faithfully yours,
- Not printed.↩