File No. 841.857M331/52
The Chargé in Germany (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28, 11.40 p. m.]
4655. In handing me its note on the Marina case, which was cabled to-day in my 4654, Foreign Office informed me confidentially and orally that it had purposely avoided mentioning the fact that the Marina was armed, as it did not wish to reopen the discussion of the question of defensive and offensive armament. Foreign Office referred to Mr. Lansing’s informal and confidential letter to Sir Cecil Spring Rice of January 18, 1916, which seemed to the German Government to contain certain arguments in accordance with and supporting the German point of view as laid down in the German memorandum of February 8, 1916, but differing from the Department’s subsequent memorandum of March 25. It is hoped by the Foreign Office that the Marina case can be settled without reopening the whole argument regarding armament and hopes our Government will supply the necessary information requested in the note cabled to-day. I am advised that the German Government will doubtless take immediate steps to rectify the error, apologize, consider the question of indemnity, etc.