The Secretary of State to the Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have received your note of yesterday, in which you suggest that hereafter the clause, “and will not be used to attack a submarine whilst being warned” be omitted in the assurances which you issue in behalf of your Government for Italian armed merchantmen visiting American ports. In reply, I desire to state that in accepting for the present the assurances of your Government with this clause omitted, the Government of the United States does not bind itself to follow, this precedent in all future cases.
I am [etc.]