763.72/2140½a

The Secretary of State to President Wilson 47

My Dear Mr. President: I had a conversation this morning with the German Ambassador in which I told him of the objectionable feature of his proposed wireless message to Berlin. He appeared to appreciate the force of the objection and I accordingly returned him his letter of yesterday with the draft of message. I have now received another letter with a revise of the message.

If this meets with your approval please return it at once so that it can go forward to Berlin. I think that it practically eliminates the objectionable features of his former dispatch although, of course, he has in it the sentence—“. . . which would put the burden on England to refrain from unlawful blockade pending negotiations.” I think, however, he is entitled to express this view which is his own.

Faithfully yours,

Robert Lansing
  1. A notation attached to this paper reads: “Dear Mr. See’y: Thank you. I am willing that this should go forward. W. W.”