Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Lansing Papers, 1914–1920, Volume I

462.11 T 41/4½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 6 April, 1915.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Thrasher case is constantly in my mind. I received your letter of yesterday¹⁸ and the accompanying papers from Mr. Lansing¹⁹ and Mr. Anderson,²⁰ and have of course read them with the closest attention.

Unless you think it premature or unwise to do so, I shall bring the matter up for discussion to-morrow morning at the meeting of the Cabinet.

Meantime, one suggestion for your consideration, in the light of the authorities;

If some British merchantmen were known to be armed, and the British Government had in fact authorized or advised all merchantmen to arm themselves against submarines, and, assuming it to have been impracticable for the German commander to ascertain whether the Falaba was armed, was he justified in the circumstances in acting upon the theory that the British authorization had in effect transformed all British merchantmen into public armed vessels and made them liable to attack as such?

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.

18. Not found in Department files.
19. Ante, pp. 369–371.
20. Not printed.