File No. 711.0012/531f
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard)
Washington, July 15, 1914.
[Telegram]
Seventeen treaties have been signed providing for investigation in all cases. Am expecting to sign four more next week including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The form of the British and French [Page 4] treaties has been agreed upon and will be signed upon the same day, but before signing the British treaty must be submitted to the self-governing colonies for ratification. This will probably require a month. I shall mail you copies of the British and French treaties. We are very anxious to have Germany join with us in one of these treaties, she having already accepted the principle. The German Ambassador is now visiting in Germany. Please see him when he reaches Berlin and go with him to the Foreign Office and suggest the propriety of considering at once the details of the treaty so that Germany can sign on the same day with Great Britain and France. The British and French treaties are substantially like the Netherlands treaty of which you have a copy. We are willing, however, to make any desired change in the details. It will be very gratifying indeed if the German treaty can be signed simultaneously with the British and French treaty. Use your best endeavors to this end.