195.1/149½
President Wilson to the Acting Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Lansing: I am preparing my annual message to Congress. One of the bills I want to urge upon the attention of the Houses is the shipping bill, which would involve, as you know, in all likelihood, the purchase of a number of ships that have been owned hitherto by subjects of one or other of the belligerents. You will remember that a little while ago the attitude of the English Government in this matter of the transfer of flag during hostilities seemed to be very different from the attitude of the French Government. I would like very much before writing my message to know just what you think the attitude of those two governments would be towards the purchase by a corporation in which the United. States Government was interested of such ships as those now belonging to the North German Lloyd and the Hamburg-American Companies, and which are interned in our waters.
I know that you have had conversations with M. Jusserand and. Sir Cecil Spring-Rice that would throw some light upon this question, and I would like to know your full impressions before going further with my message.
Cordially and sincerely yours,