841.857 Ar 1/103½
Colonel E. M. House to President Wilson
New York,
September 26, 1915.
Dear Governor: Bernstorff came to see me very promptly this morning. He said he had an intimation from Washington, indirectly through Tumulty, that you wanted him to hasten the Arabic matter and to see Lansing when he passes through New York before he reaches Washington.
This is what he would like to know.
- (1)
- Do you want anything done before he sees Lansing? He reiterates that what he can do now is to give additional assurances directly from his government that no passenger vessel will be torpedoed in the future without notice, and that the ship will have the benefit of the doubt.
- (2)
- They are willing to submit the Arabic case to an international commission and accept the principle of indemnity for the loss of life.
- If this is not satisfactory, he will take the question up with his government as to some form of disavowal based upon American evidence. But if his government makes the disavowal they would want to refer the question of reparation to the Hague.
- (3)
- If you decide a disavowal must be made, do you want him to make an effort at once, or would you prefer that he wait until after he consults Lansing?
I have told him I thought I could get him this information by Tuesday morning.57
Your devoted,
E. M. House
- September 28.↩