File No. 763.72/2563
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 7, 11.50 p. m.]
3715. The Clerical speaker in the Reichstag yesterday also said the American Nation had signally failed to observe the admonitions of the President in his proclamation of August [18, 1914] to be neutral in spirit and act. America had construed neutrality rules very liberally when the Allies were concerned but always insisted on the letter of the law when Germany was concerned. He could not understand why American business men continued to submit to England’s invasion of their legitimate right to trade and that Congress had suggested no remedy. England had betrayed the white race by surrendering the Pacific Ocean to Japan; the European powers and America had abandoned the Far East field to Japan; Germany had never followed political plans in China but only wanted a place in the sun; Germany would take up her efforts again as soon as the war ended and devote her best energies to that field.
The Socialists introduced the following resolution:
The stipulations of international law must be applied to submarine warfare also. In particular, relentless submarine warfare, that is to say, the torpedoing without warning of merchant and passenger vessels of enemy and [Page 225] neutral countries, shall not be applied in any circumstances. The Reichstag expects that the Chancellor will very soon endeavor to bring about an understanding between the nations by initiating peace negotiations.
The Budget Committee submitted a confidential report on its deliberations on the submarine question. The report states that the demand embodied in the resolution that Germany must preserve all freedom in the use of the submarines necessary in order to assume her maritime position of special importance, and that although the respecting of the just interests of neutral countries is a matter of course for Germany’s policy, the committee nevertheless attached importance to an explicit statement that in view of the excitement often prevalent among neutrals due to English intrigue, their just interests will be accorded consideration as a matter of course, whereas the committee wished all unjust demands of the neutrals to be rejected. More radical demands and wishes were voiced in the committee, but such a form finally adopted was chosen in order that the world might be shown that the German Reichstag was one voice in the struggle for Germany’s existence.