763.72/2237½
Colonel E. M. House to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1.]
Dear Mr. Lansing: Bernstorff has just called. He says his Government believe that the concessions they made in regard to submarine warfare, were largely for the purpose of getting us to maintain the doctrine of the freedom of the seas, and he wonders if this is not a propitious time for something to be done, either by them or by us.
I told him that what we all wanted was success and not a mere agitation for political or other reasons. That it might be very inadvisable to discuss this doctrine at this time, or to openly advocate it. I strongly advised against his Government pushing it at all for the reason that it would probably harden public opinion in England [Page 488] against it and make it more difficult of accomplishment when the right moment comes.
He tells me that he hopes to see you on Monday or Tuesday of next week, and I thought it well for you to know of our conversation.
Sincerely yours,