File No. 763.72112/360
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
Washington, October 1, 1914, 4 p.m.
[Telegram]
227. Your 758, September 29, 7 p.m.1 The Department’s instruction of September 26,2 in re the Declaration of London and order in council, which has been mailed to you, you will not present to Sir Edward Grey until you are specifically instructed to do so by telegraph. You should use the instruction, however, for your own information in the informal discussions in which you are engaged as it defines the position of this Government as to the acceptance of the Declaration of London as a code of naval warfare for this war and states the objections of this Government to the order in council and the reasons for this Government’s refusal to agree to any material modification of the declaration, of which reasons not the least is the view which the German and Austrian Governments would undoubtedly hold of an acceptance of modifications of the declaration which would be of special advantage to their enemies.
The press of this country is beginning to discuss the question and will undoubtedly do so more and more as complaints are being made of seizures of cargoes destined to Netherlands ports.