763.72112/986½
President Wilson to the Counselor for the Department of State (Lansing)
My Dear Mr. Lansing: Will you not be kind enough to look over the enclosed64 and tell me what you think of it?
You will see what I have done. I have recast the note as a statement and interpretation: so that there is no argument involved, but it is meant to mean: We have the Order and the note accompanying it. We cannot understand these as notice of illegal action. We shall assume the contrary until actual things done compel us to look upon the matter differently. Then we shall hold the British government responsible in accordance with the well known principles of international law, of which we now remind her, so that she may know just what we understand them to be.
[Page 294]Please make any comment you please either on the statements or the language of what I have written.
Sincerely Yours,
- Not printed.↩