File No. 763.72119/118

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

1539. My private cipher despatches last week only incidentally quoted Sir Edward Grey’s purely private conversation with me. Moreover, he spoke not of the Government but only of public opinion here. While, of course, he knows that all information that I get from any quarter in any way is at the service of my Government, this conversation was so purely private that I prefer, with your permission, not to inform him that you have sent me instructions in answer to my report of it to you. If you approve, I will use your 1019, January 23, when a favorable opportunity occurs. It will have a better effect after he has sent the longer answer to your note of December 28 that he is now preparing. To wait till then and till the Dacia case comes off will prevent crossing controversies as one might cross wires. There may be a gain by having only one leading Controversy at a time.

For my instruction please inform me precisely what rules you refer to in the following passage from your 1019, January 23: “If the evidence shows the sale was made in good faith the transfer cannot be objected to according to the rules recognized by both Great Britain and the United States.”

Sir Edward Grey informed me at luncheon to-day that he thought your letter to Senator Stone admirable in every respect.1 It is having a very excellent effect here.

American Ambassador
  1. The Secretary’s letter to Senator Stone is printed in the Preface to Foreign Relations, 1914, Supplement, p. vii.