File No. 763.72/544
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
American Embassy,
London, August 20, 1914, 1 p.m. [Received 5:15 p.m.]
London, August 20, 1914, 1 p.m. [Received 5:15 p.m.]
[Telegram]
Sir Edward Grey showed me Barclay’s despatch about your conference with him about mines and the answer that Grey telegraphed to Barclay three days ago. Grey seemed puzzled and somewhat surprised at our wish to exact from him a pledge which would give the Germans license to use mines and bind the English not to use them. I understand that the Hague convention of 1907 relating to laying of contact mines is not operative in present war by reason of Article 7.
American Ambassador