File No. 763.72/2432
The Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27, 8 p. m.]
3531. Press prints London reports of dissension in Democratic Party, stating that Foreign Relations Committee of House refuses to support President in insisting on right of Americans to travel on armed enemy merchant vessels and demands that warning be issued against using such vessels. President’s letter to Senator Stone also quoted. The London Morning Post is quoted as saying that the United States would not undertake anything until it was definitely known just what Germany intends to do. The German papers state that after the German memorandum and Von Jagow’s interview, there can be no possible doubt as to Germany’s intentions.
Leader in the Frankfurter Zeitung sums up the conflict of opinions as follows: America has declared that if the modus vivendi proposed by it is not accepted by the Allies, the present status of the armament of merchant vessels must be accepted, although it is not at all recognized by Germany. The American Government sees no reason for warning Americans against traveling aboard vessels armed for defense, and if Americans lose their lives as a consequence of submarine attack, Germany’s action will be treated as a violation of international law and a breach of the promises given. Germany, on the [Page 180] other hand, states that in consequence of the perfidious action of armed British merchantmen against submarines, enemy merchant vessels armed with guns will, after a brief interval, be treated as belligerents. Germany will not recede from this position. Against whom, then, are merchantmen armed if not against war vessels, now that there are no more pirates? The German Secretary of State declared, “We have furnished proof that the English Admiralty has given most explicit instructions that the armed merchant vessels are to proceed offensively against the submarines, and therefore we maintain with the fullest right that this so-called armament for what are alleged to be defensive purposes is nothing but a ruse, and these merchant vessels are merely auxiliary war cruisers and must be treated as such.”
The editorial asserts that America has no right to demand a declaration from Germany and Austria-Hungary as to how they propose to distinguish between armed and unarmed steamers, since America plainly has no intention of objecting in any case to the cannons on the English merchantmen and liners. The American Secretary of State intimates that this confidential question would not be put until a ship with American passengers is torpedoed, which seems to indicate that the American Government will as heretofore seek to avoid an open rupture with Germany.
The paper repeats what it has already said about the seriousness of a conflict with America and rebukes those who clamor for ruthless application of the submarine weapon as poor patriots. Germany undoubtedly possesses the right to cut off England from all supplies, but whether such a course is advisable is another question, which only those high in authority can answer. It is now necessary for the besieged German people to preserve discipline and decorum at home as well as at the front, and each man and each woman must act as a true soldier.