File No. 763.72/2433

The Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

3535. I think it is possible that Germany may soon issue a supplementary memorandum offering to abandon all reprisals against England in the nature of sinking any ships without notice, to be effective in case England agrees to disarm merchant vessels; the idea being that there will then be no logical excuse for the continued arming of merchant vessels. Pirates have disappeared, privateering has been done away with, and now Germany will extend the orders not to sink a passenger ship without first giving warning and putting crew in safety, to all merchant vessels of every kind. Submarine boats are recognized as legitimate weapons of war by all nations, and a merchant vessel armed with one small gun is as effective against a submarine as a warship. In case England refuses [to] disarm merchant vessels, then America will be in a good position to warn [Page 181] Americans not to travel on such ships, as the English orders and articles published recently in London Times show conclusively that English armed merchant vessels make a practice of firing at sight at submarines and do not wait until attacked to use their armament. Above is German view of position gathered from various sources. This should be kept from publication, as, of course, this memorandum may not be sent. The question of sending it is still under discussion.

Gerard