File No. 704.6200
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, August 2, 1914, 12 noon.
[Received 10 a.m.]
[Telegram]
Shall I accede to Germany’s request that United States take over German embassies in countries with which Germany may be at war? This is third day I have asked an answer to this question. Shall I take over any embassies if requested? Informed by French Ambassador last night that only chance of peace was offer of some sort by the United States in the nature of good offices. Plain people here seem to want war, demonstrations continual. General mobilization ordered here yesterday, everything military runs smoothly. Inform Congressman Plumley his son-in-law well. Informed Spanish Embassy will be asked to take over French and Russian here. Americans cannot cash checks, American Express Company and others.