851.857 Su 8/55½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I am very heartily in accord with the proposed redraft of an instruction to Ambassador Gerard, (though I have suggested certain alterations in the text which do not change the spirit or sense), except as to one thing and that is the closing part which defines our action.34
It seems to me to say that we must sever relations unless Germany ceases her submarine practices weakens the communication very much. The impression I get is this, that we say we will wait and see if you sink another vessel with Americans on board. If you do we will recall our Ambassador. Why should we postpone to the happening of another outrage action which I feel will do much to prevent such [Page 547] outrage? It impresses me we are actually endangering the lives of our citizens by such a course.
I do not see that we gain anything strategically by postponing an action which I believe, and I think you agree with me, we will have to take in the end.
On the other hand, I think that vigorous and uncompromising action will be far more effective and may accomplish the purpose we desire. I am afraid that the ending as it reads will be construed as indefinite as to time and as giving an opening for discussion.
I have taken the liberty to put down the ending, which I would very much prefer. If they intend to submit at all they will have time to do so before his passports are handed to Gerard. If they do not intend to give up their practices, we are far better off than if we waited till they killed some more Americans.
Of course there is another way and that is to fix a time limit for a favorable answer, say, forty-eight hours; but to me that seems more offensive and more like an ultimatum than to break off diplomatic relations without delay or opportunity for parley.
I feel strongly in favor of the action I have proposed, as I think that it would have a profound effect on Germany, on this country and on other neutral nations.
Faithfully yours,
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Redraft not printed; for the note as sent, see Foreign Relations, 1916, supp., p. 232.
The concluding portion of President Wilson’s redraft read as follows:
“Unless the Imperial Government should now immediately declare its intention to abandon its present practices of submarine warfare and return to a scrupulous observance of the practices clearly prescribed by the law of nations, the Government of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire altogether.”
Secretary Lansing’s proposed conclusion read:
“It [the Government of the United States] can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire until such time as the Imperial Government shall declare its purpose to abandon and shall abandon its present practices of submarine warfare, return to a scrupulous observance of the rules of naval warfare prescribed by the law of nations, and agree to make amends so far as is possible for the deaths and injuries suffered by citizens of the United States through the wanton attacks of German naval commanders on vessels of commerce.
“I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I am further instructed to request my passports and to depart from the German Empire as soon as possible, and to state that the Imperial German Ambassador at Washington will be requested to take his immediate departure for the United States.”
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