763.72111/1797½
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I am sending you a letter which Mr. Lansing thinks ought to be sent to the British Ambassador as a matter of precaution.51
I fully sympathize with Mr. Lansing’s feeling in regard to the number of groundless complaints which he received, but I doubt whether we ought to say anything that would indicate impatience. The Ambassadors on both sides are, of course, charged with a grave responsibility and if they fail to bring to our attention anything, that puts them on inquiry, they would be subjected to severe criticism should the reported thing develop into a menace.
I am inclined to think it is one of those annoyances we must endure and make the best of, considering the stress of the times. My opinion is that we had better attempt to investigate each case, asking for additional information where sufficient evidence is not furnished us, but, at the same time, acting on anything that is given us. If the information given is not sufficiently certain or definite to enable us to find anything we cannot be blamed, provided we do the best we can with the material furnished us. Both sides have presented complaints that proved to be groundless and yet I fear we would expect our representatives to act as they have under similar circumstances.
Will you please let me know how the proposed communication impresses you?
With assurances [etc.]
- Not printed.↩