763.72/2352½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I enclose for your consideration the draft of a letter to the British Ambassador dealing with the submarine question, and suggesting a method by which future loss of life on merchant vessels might be avoided.8
My first inclination was to send letters to the German Ambassador and Austrian Chargé, but two reasons prevented; first, I was convinced that the German and Austrian Governments would assent to the proposal as it only required them to conform to the rules of international law, while it required their enemies to modify a present practice which might be construed into the relinquishment of a legal right; and, second, if Germany and Austria acceded promptly to the suggestion, any demur by Great Britain, France, Italy or Belgium would, if it became known (as it would undoubtedly through the German or Austrian Embassies), arouse adverse criticism in the press of this country and excite public resentment against the Entente Powers, which appears to be increasing from day to day.
By adopting this method of approach the proposal can be kept secret if it is refused by the Entente Governments and if it is considered inexpedient to make it public.
Faithfully yours,
- For text of the letter as sent, see Foreign Relations, 1916, supp., p. 146.↩