File No. 763.72112Sa/122
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5.30 p.m.]
1589. My 1456, August 28, 10 [11] p.m. It has now been decided, as the best course to follow in view of the recent publication of the French decree in regard to the so-called German safe conducts and the objections of some of the Entente ministers in Denmark and [Page 1103] Holland to a formal identic communication, to instruct the Allied ministers at Stockholm simultaneously to present, mutatis mutandis, the note reported in my telegram above referred to, but to leave the choice to the ministers in the other neutral countries of the form in which the communication is to be made, i. e., whether it is to be formal or informal; the wording to be the same in all countries, omitting, of course, the statement in the second paragraph intended only for Sweden. In the case of Spain it is deemed wiser to leave to the chiefs of mission the choice, as well, of time of presentation, in order that they may select a propitious moment. It was decided that no publicity should be given to the form or purport of the communications. It is hoped that you will concur in this course and instruct our representatives accordingly.