763.72/2648½
Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation With the German Ambassador (Bernstorff), April 10, 1916, 3 p. m.
B I did not come to see you the last days because I thought you had no information, but today I hear that you had received information and I wanted to ask if I could be of any service. Anything I could do in the matter would be pleased to do.
L Not yet. As I understand it Mr. Gerard was to receive the note today.
B I understood it had come, but I only got a telegram that he would get it.
L No, we have not received it. We had a preliminary but not the full text.
B Do they ask for more information?
L They would like the details.
B Then at the present moment there is nothing to be done?
L We are simply collecting the evidence—that is all.
B I wanted to keep in touch with the matter and if there is anything I can do you know I certainly want to do all I can. * * *31 My Government is in a serious political situation in parliament so I do not know whether they have settled down to do anything definite in the matter. * * *
L I realize there must be political considerations.
B (The Ambassador talked further about the parliamentary situation, but his speech was too rapid and broken for me to understand.)
L No, there is nothing at present. We are still awaiting certain information.
B May I ask if you have any definite proof—considered definite?
L Not yet; though we are expecting fuller reports than summaries of evidence. I expected we would have it today but I understand the St Paul did not sail until last Wednesday.
B Then, generally speaking, at the present moment there is nothing definite.
L Yes, I mean by definite we have gotten certain summaries of evidence but I always prefer to have the documents as far as possible.
B At the present moment nothing can be done.
L I do not think there is anything to say at all in regard to the situation.
B I do not want to “butt in” but I want to help. * * * I asked them to give me such information as they could, and besides, I told [Page 545] them that the situation was grave. I did that on my own initiative and I would have waited until I heard more from Berlin. * * *
31 This form of punctuation appears at intervals in the original.
L I consider the situation as grave as it has been.
B I cannot judge from what I hear whether anything has been proved in contradiction. Of course— * * *
L Of course I have given no expression of opinion and would not until I collected what evidence we could get in regard to the matter.
B During the past week I had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Polk in regard to the commercial situation.
L * * * I myself do not handle those matters * * *
B If there is anything I can do, if you will advise me, I would like to help if I can. You know I never made matters worse, so if I can do anything to help I will be glad to do it.
L All right. Thank you for coming.
- This form of punctuation appears at intervals in the original.↩