File No. 763.72/1461
The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4.50 p. m.]
190. Your note to Germany has made deep impression here.1 Minister for Foreign Affairs privately informed me his Government has verbally made observations both to Von Billow and through Italian. Ambassador Berlin pointing out that Germany’s war zone proclamation touching neutral flags instead of relieving Germany from responsibility in regard to neutral vessels augments such responsibility and that any injury to such ships without proper investigation to establish bona fides of flag would naturally have a great effect upon public opinion. Minister for Foreign Affairs states that he is thinking of presenting these verbal observations more formally.