File No. 763.72111/672
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, November 4, 1914.
[Received November 16.]
No. 550]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you, referring to clippings from the British newspapers from October 13 to October 28 which have been forwarded to the Department under separate cover, that British opinion, as expressed in the press during this interval, has been one which attempts to warn the British mind against the fallacy of the employment of criticism of an ignorant and unthinking nature of the attitude and action of the Government of the United States in the present crisis of events.
Examples are given as to how the relations between Great Britain and the United States during the American Civil War were strained on account of needless expressions of opinion by persons whose knowledge of the matters in question was but slight.
Several leading articles have laid stress upon friendliness of Great Britain with the American Government and people.
Great denunciation is expressed in all papers of what is called “Count Bernstorff’s publicity campaign,” and great satisfaction is shown of the way in which the American press has received the German Ambassador’s statements, particular emphasis being laid upon the comments in the leading articles of American newspapers concerning his reported remarks as to the Monroe Doctrine in connection with Canada.
[Page 132]In a word, the English press is very appreciative of what its American correspondents report as favorable public feeling in the United States, and they bespeak a fair deal in the intercourse between the two nations.
I have [etc.]