763.72111/4527½
The Secretary of State to
President Wilson
Washington,
February 14, 1917.
My Dear Mr. President: I have received the
enclosed letter of the 13th from Senator Stone transmitting a resolution
introduced by Senator Saulsbury in regard to the use of our ports by
belligerent warships.
Senator Saulsbury called to see me yesterday morning and showed me the
proposed resolution asking my views in regard to it. I told him that of
course I could not endorse the resolution, but that under certain
conditions it might be useful.
He asked me if it would embarrass the Government if it was introduced. I
told him I did not think it would if it was referred without debate to
the Foreign Relations Committee. He said that he intended to do
that.
I repeated to him that he must not consider anything I had said as
endorsing the resolution or approving its introduction. He said that he
understood that.
[Page 606]
I took this course because I saw that the Senator was very desirous to
introduce the resolution, and I thought that it could be better handled
if it was referred to the Committee as it could then be suppressed or
held without action for the time being.
Senator Stone’s letter will have to be answered, however, and I should
like to have your instructions before reply.
Faithfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations (Stone) to the Secretary of State
7
[Washington,]
February 13, 1917.
Dear Mr. Secretary: At the request of
Senator Saulsbury, I have directed the Clerk of this Committee to
forward you, for any comment you might care to make thereon, his
Resolution presented this morning; copy of which is herewith
enclosed.
Sincerely yours,
[Subenclosure]
An Act to Discourage the Violation of
International Law Upon the High Seas8
Whenever a state of war exists between two or more nations with whom
the United States are at peace and one or more of the belligerents
shall upon the high seas enter upon, engage in or permit a course of
warfare or use a method not justified or warranted by the laws of
war as generally accepted or as construed by this Government, the
ports, harbors and waters of the United States may, as freely as in
time of universal peace, be resorted to, used and frequented by the
warships or other vessels of any other belligerent, however armed,
for the possible purpose of capturing, destroying, resisting or
escaping from any vessel of the belligerent or belligerents engaged
in such unwarranted course of warfare, or using such illegal
methods.
Provided, before the ports, harbors and waters of the United States
may be so resorted to, used and frequented, the President shall by
proclamation declare that proper occasion has arisen therefor under
the terms of this act.
