Office of the Historian

File No. 763.72112/359a

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)

Department of State,
Washington, September 28, 1914, 9 p.m.

[Telegram]

218. You will immediately see Sir Edward Grey and state to him informally and confidentially that this Government is greatly disturbed by the intention of the British Government to change the provisions of the Declaration of London by the order in council of the 20th August and to adopt the declaration thus changed as the code of naval warfare for the present war. This Government feels grave concern at all of the proposed changes, especially those in Articles 3 and 5 of the order in council, which so materially affect the rights of neutral commerce. If the proposed rules are sought to be put into force and the matter becomes the subject of public discussion in this country, as it undoubtedly will, it is to be confidently expected that it will arouse a spirit of resentment among the American people toward Great Britain which this Government would extremely regret but which it would be unable to prevent. You will also point out that the enforcement of these rules by the British Government would furnish to those inimical to Great Britain an opportunity which they would not be slow to seize, and which they are already using in our press upon the mere publication of the order.

You will further say that the President earnestly desires to avoid a formal protest to the proposed rules and their enforcement and hopes that the British Government will be willing to consider the advisability of modifying these features of the order in council which possesses such latent possibilities.

You will impress upon Sir Edward Grey the President’s conviction of the extreme gravity of the situation and his earnest wish to avoid every cause of irritation and controversy between this Government and the Government of His Majesty.

[Page 233]

In presenting the substance of this instruction to Sir Edward Grey you will assure him of the earnest spirit of friendship in which it is sent. The President is anxious that he should realize the terms of the Declaration of London represent the limit to which this Government could go with the approbation and support of its people.

Telegraph result of interview as soon as possible.

Lansing