Office of the Historian

763.72/2139½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State 46

Washington, 27 August, 1915.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: It does not seem to me that the Ambassador states our position fully enough here, and I should very much dread seeing his Government misled. Our point is, not merely that no passenger ships should be attacked without warning, but that care should be taken to make adequate provision for safe-guarding the lives of non-combatants. Mere warning on a stormy sea, mere putting of passengers and crew into open boats, might be as brutal as giving them no warning at all. “Without warning and provision for the safety of the lives of non-combatants”, if he would accept the phraseology, would cover my point.

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.
  1. This paper bears the notation: “Telegram of Amb. taken by him at 10 a m Aug 27/15 for revision RL.”↩