File No. 763.72111/3718
The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary of State: It will no doubt have occurred to you that, since Germany and Austria-Hungary announced their intention to sink armed merchantmen at sight on and after March 1 [Page 754] ultimo, the mere sighting of a submarine by an armed merchantman amounts to an attack, as armed merchantmen have been notified that they will be fired upon without warning.
Consequent to these new conditions, the instructions issued up to now to the captains of Italian armed merchantmen “not to use their guns to attack a submarine whilst being warned,” expose such ships to wanton destruction whilst they are waiting for a warning which will no longer be given them by enemy submarines.
I, therefore, venture to suggest that the sentence “and will not be used to attack a submarine whilst being warned” be omitted in the declarations which this Embassy issues for Italian armed merchantmen visiting American ports.
I am confident that you will find my request perfectly justified and whilst awaiting the favor of a reply, I beg to remain [etc.]