763.72111/4527½
President Wilson to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The proclamation by the President here contemplated would, in effect, be a proclamation of outlawry against the naval representatives of a Government with which this Government would be at peace, and would beyond all doubt be considered so unfriendly an act as virtually to amount to a declaration of war. To vest such a power in the President would, therefore, be in fact (whatever the theory or intention of the Act) to depute to him the power to declare war. That would clearly be unconstitutional, virtually if not technically, and I think very much better and more direct ways of bringing on war would be preferable to this.
I would be glad if you would let Senator Stone have a copy of this letter when you reply to his inquiry.
Faithfully Yours,