Office of the Historian

763.72112/1851½

The Secretary of State to President Wilson

Washington, October 21, 1915.

My Dear Mr. President: I am in receipt of the note to Great Britain with your changes and also your letter in regard to it. I am very much gratified that the note meets your approval.

For several days I have felt that the note should go forward as promptly as possible to Great Britain. There has been considerable criticism that we have delayed for so many months to reply to the series of notes which Great Britain sent to us on the subject of neutral trade, although the excuse of our controversy with Germany over submarine warfare seemed to be generally accepted as a reasonable ground for delay. After the practical settlement of the Arabic question however, unfavorable criticism was renewed and has been increasing in volume from day to day.

I have not felt it was wise to take up the case of the Lusitania and the cases of Von Papen, Boy-Ed and Albert until the note to Great Britain was forwarded. For these reasons it seems to me that we ought not to cause further delay by sending the note by mail. The next pouch to London does not leave the Department until the 30th of this month, so that in all probability the note would not be received by the Foreign Office before the 10th or 12th of November.

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During the next month the complaints and criticisms would increase very much in volume. The Department has hundreds of letters from American importers and exporters asking what we are doing to relieve the situation in which they find themselves. Furthermore, if you approve of my policy of delaying a consideration of the further questions with Germany until the note to Great Britain has been sent, these could not be taken up until about the middle of November.

In view of all the circumstances I therefore think that the note should be telegraphed immediately to London. Will you please advise me today if possible as to your wishes in the matter.92

Everything will be done to preserve the secrecy of the note and only my confidential men will see it.

Faithfully yours,

[File copy not signed]
  1. By direction of the President the note was sent by a special messenger leaving October 24 (file No. 763.72112/1851½a).↩