File No. 763.72/3386
The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (Penfield) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20, 4.30 p.m.]
1713. Department’s 1551, February 14, 5 p.m. This morning had long conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs on the subject of submarine warfare. Because Minister has recently come to Foreign Office and his subordinates are new, I left paraphrase of instructions with him to which he promised earnest attention. Minister stated that it would be necessary to consult chiefs of marine section and legal heads of Government. Minister reiterated his wish that no severance of relations might ever come and told me of drastic steps taken by Government for preventing newspaper articles hostile to America.