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

841.857 Ar 1/104½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 30 September, 1915.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose for your information a letter from House, which explains itself.⁵⁸

I replied that I was willing to wait until Bernstorff could see you in New York on Saturday,⁵⁹ and that when he did see you I thought it best that he should take it for granted that we would have to insist upon a disavowal of the action of the submarine commander in sinking the Arabic. I said that I did not think that public opinion in this country would be in the least satisfied with anything short of that.

You will know better than I can as yet just what line to take with the Ambassador when you see him.

I hope that you have had a real and a very refreshing rest. We shall all be mighty glad to see you back. Polk has been doing finely.

Faithfully Yours,

Woodrow Wilson

58. Supra.
59. October 2.