763.72/2372½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: The British Ambassador called upon me this morning and handed me the enclosed paper11 which is the substance of a telegram received by him from Sir Edward Grey in regard to our proposition as to a modus vivendi in connection with submarine warfare. I also enclose a telegram upon the same subject, deciphered late yesterday, received from Ambassador Page at London.12
It seems to me that the British Government expected us to denounce submarine warfare as inhuman and to deny the right to use submarines in attacking commercial vessels; and that these statements by Sir Edward Grey evidence his great disappointment that we have failed to be the instrument to save British commerce from attack by Germany.
I must say that I am very considerably disturbed as to Mr. Page’s attitude on all subjects which in any way affect the policies of Great Britain. He certainly is influenced very strongly by the atmosphere in which he is and I frequently doubt whether he urges the cases involving American rights with the force and vigor which he should as American Ambassador.
In regard to the submarine matter I think there is nothing to be done until we have heard from the Allies of Great Britain but I presume in view of these telegrams that they will be opposed to any arrangement. I do not think it is necessary for us to act immediately upon such refusal but we should consider what course we are going to take in regard to Americans traveling on vessels carrying arms, which can be used offensively against submarines. I doubt whether we can insist that vessels so armed can be considered other than as auxiliary cruisers of the respective navies of the Allies.
I would be very much gratified if you could give me your views on this subject.
Faithfully yours,
- Copy not found in Department files.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1916, supp., p. 151.↩