File No. 763.72/2914
The Chargé in Germany (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 9, 8 a. m.]
4443. Press summary. It is reported that a memorandum of the Admiralty Staff on the effect of submarine warfare against England has been widely circulated; the Liberal press claims that this is nothing but a private essay by a subordinate, but Conservative papers maintain that it is the work of an expert employed by the Admiralty, was approved and signed by the chief of the Admiralty Staff and submitted to the Chancellor, so that there is no question as to its official character. The National Liberal News Agency states that although Helfferich’s speech in Reichstag committee was applauded by Progressives and Socialists, it will cause no change whatever in the position taken by the great majority of the National Liberals or those from other parties who take the same position, and their number has considerably increased since March. Commenting on this the Deutsche Tageszeitung points out that Traub and Heckscher, two of the leaders of the Progressives, have gone over to the anti-Government side in the submarine question and suspected it is no longer possible even by the most rigorous party discipline to conceal the fact that the conviction that submarine warfare ought to be carried out indiscriminately is gaining ground among the leading men of all parties, and that the great mass of the German people stands behind these men. The paper states that the Conservatives are not actuated by any personal feeling against the Chancellor, but would willingly support him if he would only adopt what they are convinced is the only possible course regarding submarine warfare. It states that a vote of confidence in the Chancellor’s policy would not make the slightest difference in the situation and that any attempts to stifle the conscientious opposition of wide circles of the German people would have serious consequences.