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

841.857/32½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 7 September, 1915.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: The sinking of the Hesperian^49a has for the time arrested everything, and therefore an answer to the enclosed⁵⁰ is perhaps too much belated to be of any use to you. But this is clear, that we should let the German Government know that it was not wise to wait too long to state their attitude and the course they intend to pursue with regard to the sinking of the Arabic.

However, we shall not be certain of anything until we hear all the facts about the Hesperian.

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.

1. For correspondence previously printed regarding the Hesperian, see ibid., pp. 533–556 passim, and p. 607.
50. Nose of Sept. 3, 1915, from the German Ambassador, ibid., 533.