763.72/2635½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

My Dear Mr. Secretary: In view of the wording of the last paragraph of this communication, it is evident to me that it is intended not as in any proper sense a memorandum for the information of this Government but as an appeal to American public opinion, and, for my own part, I resent being made use of in this way.

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Do you not think that it would be well to ask the German Ambassador why, since it is addressed to the American people and makes no reference whatever to a desire to inform the Government of the United States of the subject matter of its contents, it was handed to this Government at all?

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.