763.72/1757a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: In going over the draft of the note which you sent over this morning Mr. Lansing discovered that you had left in the sentence saying that this German war zone touched the coasts of many neutral countries. He calls attention to the fact that the war zone does not touch the coast of any neutral nation. The Netherlands [Page 403] is the only neutral nation affected and thirty miles is left along the coast.
We take it for granted that you would desire to have that sentence left out, but I bring it to your attention so that it can be inserted if you think it best.
In talking over the phone with Mr. Tumulty I said I was very much pleased with the statement you are going to have made—meaning the newspaper statement which you have prepared—and I found that he did not know about it. I told him he would find it out from you and did not attempt to give him the contents of it. I was sorry afterwards that I had said anything about it. While I presume he would not mention the matter you might, if you think it necessary, caution him.
With assurances [etc.]