File No. 763.72119/1093
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6.27 p.m.]
8218. For Secretary and President:
The President’s address to Congress was received here too late for extended comment in morning’s papers, but yesterday’s afternoon and this morning’s papers all contain the most appreciative and laudatory editorials. There is a general acknowledgment of the very high idealism of the address. It puts the aims of the United States in the war on the highest basis of justice and disinterestedness, its effect is most cheering.
In minor key there is expressed a British doubt of the practicability of free seas for merchant ships in future wars but even this is accepted in principle by most of the comment.
[Page 18]The general feeling of depression with which the new year began has been dissipated by Prime Minister’s speech and Haig’s report and especially by the speech of the President which the labor organs in common with other press in Great Britain accept with enthusiasm. Our war aims and our unchangeable resolution are now most clearly understood and the moral tonic effect of the President’s noble program cannot be exaggerated.