File No. 812.6363/47.
The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Washington, May 1, 1914.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: In thanking you for your note of this day’s date on the subject of the neutralisation of the oil wells, I wish to state that I quite concur in your suggestion to treat the question of the control of the cities independently to that of the oil wells. As you say, it is most important that there should not be delay, for any delay is especially dangerous to the wells. But it is of course of the utmost importance when the time comes that whoever is in control of the towns should clearly understand that proper respect must be paid to the principles of international law and the property of neutrals.
I am [etc.]