File No. 763.72119/234
The Chargé in Germany (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22, 12.30 a. m.]
4753. Referring to my 4750, December 19, 6 p. m.1 In an entirely informal conversation to-day Zimmermann told me that he wished to see removed such causes of friction between the United States and the Central powers as the refusal of the Turkish Government to permit the departure of Americans from Syria and the complaints regarding the Belgian deportations, and that he was doing his best to that end. He said that errors had been made in carrying out the Belgian deportation measures, but that steps were now being taken to bring these measures within the proper bounds. It was his sincere aim to keep the relations of the United States and Germany on a thoroughly satisfactory footing. He spoke of peace and said that while the Chancellor had indicated in his note the fact that Germany with her sincere desire for peace would adopt no basis which it would be impossible for the Entente to accept, the German Government had particularly avoided giving any intimation as to what their basis would be, as this, among other reasons, might have demoralized the troops in the field who would have believed that there was no further purpose in fighting. I report this merely as an informal and unofficial conversation and as the first comment on the subject of peace which has been made to me at the Foreign Office since the Chancellor, handed me his note on December 12.2