File No. 763.72112/595
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8 p. m.]
1440. In a private conversation to-day with Sir Edward Grey about his reply to your note sent last night he informed me that the working arrangements between Great Britain and European neutral countries are better than they have been hitherto. He left the distinct impression on my mind that he hopes for less trouble in the future, except possibly as regards copper. He expressed hope that Department would recognize complete change in shipping, from sail to steam, from small ships to big ships, which has made search at sea under modern conditions practically impossible. Moreover, he continued, for a warship to stop alongside a merchantman long enough [Page 303] to search her would surely invite submarine attacks endangering both.