Office of the Historian

841.857 L 97/129½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 24 January, 1916.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I do not see wherein this memorandum differs from that previously submitted and which we declared unsatisfactory. I entirely agree with you that we cannot accept it as a recognition of our rights. It is only a concession as of grace.

You will remember the despatch1 I sent you from House, in which he asks that we take no steps against Germany until we receive the letter which he was to send by a steamer leaving England last Wednesday, the nineteenth of January. I have not the least idea what that letter contains, but I do not think that it would be prudent to take any steps towards a diplomatic break before we know what is in it.

I hope, therefore, that you will until then only see Bernstorff and let him know that the reply he has submitted is not satisfactory and seems to close conversations unless his government can see its way to a change of attitude, and then feel your way for a few days. House’s letter ought to reach us by the twenty-seventh. I assume it will come in the pouch from London.

Or would it be practicable and wise to put Bernstorff off until then?

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.
  1. No copy found in Department files.↩