Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1916, Supplement, The World War

File No. 763.72/2930

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

[Telegram]

London , October 11, 1916, 8 p. m.
[Received October 12, 8.30 a. m.]

5002. Lord Grey privately and informally tells me that his Government are not yet sure what communication, if any, they will make to you about submarine U–53, but that they are discussing subject among themselves with the following sequence of events in mind:

(1) We objected to the proximity of British cruisers which were removed. There was therefore no British patrol near our coast which might have sunk German submarine.

(2) We objected to defensive armament of merchantmen entering our harbors; most British merchantmen, if not all, in American waters are therefore defenseless.

(3) We held view that submarines may enter American waters and ports under same regulations as above-water ships; hence U–53 was given opportunity at Newport to ascertain sailings and whereabouts of British ships.

(4) The British of course regarded our former submarine controversy with Germany as our affair and not theirs, but the sinking of merchant ships without warning and with loss of life has steadily gone on in North and Arctic Seas and in the Mediterranean.

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