763.72/2522

The Secretary of State to President Wilson

My Dear Mr. President: I send you herewith the translation of an identical memorandum which was received a few days ago by this Government from the Ambassadors of France, Great Britain, Italy and Russia, and the Minister of Belgium.39 The memorandum is in reply to the letter of January 1840 in reference to the disarmament of merchant vessels.

I also enclose a proposed answer to be sent to each of the Ambassadors and the Minister. I would be obliged if you would let me know if this answer meets with your approval. I assume that it will close the incident.

Faithfully yours,

Robert Lansing
[Page 350]
[Enclosure]

Draft Note From the Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice)41

My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have received your courteous letter of the 23d instant and given careful consideration to the Memorandum enclosed relating to the proposal for an agreement to disarm merchant vessels by the Entente Powers, which I unofficially submitted to you in my letter of January 18, 1916.

The proposal was made with the humane purpose of removing the principal reason given by the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments for the failure of their submarines to comply strictly with the rules of naval warfare in intercepting the merchant vessels of their enemies on the high seas, a practice which has resulted in an appalling loss of life among the passengers and crews of vessels which have been attacked without warning.

Believing that an arrangement, such as I had the honor to propose, would have resulted in the discontinuance by Germany and Austria-Hungary of a method of attack on merchant vessels which puts in jeopardy the lives of hundreds of men, women and children of neutral as well as belligerent nationality, I cannot but regret that the Governments of the Entente Powers have rejected the proposal and have declared their unwillingness to agree to refrain from the use of armament in protecting their property on the high seas.

The Entente Governments having, however, reached a decision to decline the proposed arrangement, it becomes my duty to accept their decision as final, although I can assure your Excellency that I do so with the greatest reluctance and with grave apprehension for the future.

I am [etc.]

  1. ibid., pp. 211, 213.
  2. Ibid., p. 146.
  3. This paper (filed separately under file No. 763.72/2525) bears the notation, “Not sent.” For text of the note as sent on April 7 to the British Ambassador and, mutatis mutandis, to the French, Russian, and Italian Ambassadors and the Belgian Minister, see Foreign Relations, 1916, supp., p. 223.