763.72/2372½b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to Colonel E. M. House
Call your attention to confidential telegram January 26, 4 p. m. addressed to Embassy, Paris.13 Page cables14 that Grey is seriously disturbed over proposal as he claims it is wholly in favor of central powers and against Allies. Page fears that this proposal will be considered German victory and that all our influence with Allies will be lost. I feel strongly that the proposal is fair and only humane solution of submarine warfare for the future. If merchant ships are armed and guns used to sink attacking submarines as has been done and as merchant ships are now instructed to do then it is unreasonable to insist that submarines should take risk of coming to surface to give warning. Feel that allies’ refusal to consider proposal calmly will strengthen Germany’s position. This proposal has no relation to Lusitania settlement and not yet mentioned to Germany but made necessary by conditions in Mediterranean and as merchant ships are arriving here carrying guns.
Gerard cables15 that you feel we are asking too much of Germany in Lusitania case. Please cable fully your views. We feel any settlement without a disavowal or admission of illegality would not be acceptable to our people. Payment of damages incidental and not the material question.
- Not printed; it summarized the modus vivendi as proposed in the note of Jan. 18, 1916, to the British Ambassador, ibid., p. 146.↩
- Ibid., p. 151.↩
- Telegram No. 3408, Jan. 29, 1916, 10 p. m., from the Ambassador in Germany, ibid., p. 153.↩