763.72/3351½
The Counselor for the Department of State (Polk) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Swiss Minister called yesterday and among other matters he brought up the subject himself of the suggestion he made on Saturday, February 10, on behalf of Germany, for a discussion of ways and means of avoiding war. He said he had seen the stories in the papers that Germany had repudiated any such overtures and wished you to be assured and, through you, the President, that he never would have brought up the subject if he had not received specific instructions from his Government to do so at the request of the German Minister in Berne. He stated that he read me his instructions from the actual telegram. He also wished to assure you that he had nothing whatever to do with the publication of this proposal; that Draper, the Associated Press correspondent, brought him the statement Saturday afternoon and as soon as he found that the press had the statement he came down here at once to carry out his instructions. It had been his intention to wait two or three days before coming down.