Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, Supplement, The World War

File No. 763.72/406

The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State ¹

American Embassy,
Berlin, August 13, 1914, 8 p.m.
[Received August 14, 9:40 p.m.]

[Telegram]

Answering your telegram 11th, relative to circumscribing war in East.

1. Germany does not seek war with Japan.

2. If Japan, on account of the treaty with England, asks that Germany do nothing against English colonies, warships, or commerce in East, Germany, will assent in return for corresponding promise from England.

3. England and Germany to reciprocally agree that either all warships of both in East leave eastern waters or remain inactive as against the other, if remaining there.

4. Japan, England, and Germany to agree that none of these three shall attack warships, colonies, territory, or commerce of any of the others in the East.

5. The East to mean all lands and seas between parallels London 90 east and all Pacific to Cape Horn.

Notify German Ambassador in Tokyo.

If this zone is too large, smaller limits will be accepted.

Gerard

1. Repeated to the Ambassador in Japan, August 15.