382. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Norway (Schoenfeld), August 27, 1918. 383. The Secretary of State to Diplomatic and Consular Officers in Latin American Countries, August 30, 1918. . Page 803 805 384. The Secretary of State to Diplomatic and Consular Officers in Latin American Countries, August 30, 1918. . 809 385. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), August 31, 1918. . . 814 386. The Secretary of State to Diplomatic Officers in Latin American Countries, September 3, 1918 . . 814 387. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Sharp), September 4, 1918. . 815 388. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), September 4, 1918. 817 389. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), September 5, 1918. 817 390. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Netherlands (Kirk), September 13, 1918. 818 391. The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State, September 16, 1918 819 392. Agreement between the War Trade Board of the United States and the Merchants' Guild of Copenhagen and the Danish Chamber of Commerce, September 18, 1918. . 393. Agreement between the War Trade Board of the United States and the Danish Special Shipping Committee, September 18, 1918 . . . 820 829 394. The Chairman of the War Trade Board (McCormick) to the 396. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Netherlands (Kirk), September 20, 1918 . . 841 397. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), September 27, 1918. 398. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), September 28, 1918. . 845 399. The Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Barclay), September 30, 1918 846 400. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page), October 1, 1918 . . 847 401. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Netherlands (Bliss), October 1, 1918. . 848 402. The Consul at Curaçao (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State, October 8, 1918. . . 849 403. The Chairman of the War Trade Board (McCormick) to the Third Secretary of the British Embassy (Hudson), October 11, 1918. 849 404. The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin), October 11, 1918. 850 405. The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Sharp), October 11, 1918 . 851 406. The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State, October 16, 1918 851 Page 407. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Willard), 854 854 855 410. The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State, October 29, 1918 856 411. The President to the Special Representative (House), October 30, 1918 412. The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State, October 30, 1918 . 413. The President to the Special Representative (House), October 30, 1918 857 857 859 414. The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State, October 30, 1918 859 415. The President to the Special Representative (House), October 31, 1918 416. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin), October 31, 1918 862 417. The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State, November 3, 1918 . . . 863 418. The Special Representative (House) to the Secretary of State, November 4, 1918 . . . 865 419. The Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Sulzer), November 5, 1918. . 867 420. The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Willard), November 5, 1918 . 868 421. The Solicitor for the Department of State (Woolsey) to the Counselor for the Department of State (Polk), November 11, 1918 . 869 422. The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Stovall), November 11, 1918. 423. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin), 425. Agreement between the Netherland Government and the 870 872 873 427. The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin), November 29, 1918. 428. The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State, December 14, 1918 .. 429. Joint Agreement between the Governments of Great Britain, France, and Italy and the Netherlands Oversea Trust, December 17, 1918. . 882 883 883 884 431. The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Secretary of State, February 20, 1919. 430. The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Secretary of State, January 6, 1919. 892 894 CHAPTER I THE DECLARATION OF LONDON IN 1914 AMERICAN SUGGESTION THAT THE DECLARATION BE ADOPTED When war began in Europe in 1914 the declaration concerning the laws of naval warfare, signed at London February 26, 1909,1 had not been ratified by any of the signatory states. The United States believed that acceptance of the Declaration of London by the belligerent powers would prevent "grave misunderstandings" which might arise in their relations with neutral states, and inquired on August 6, 1914, whether the principal belligerents would agree that the declaration should be applicable during the conflict.2 Germany and Austria-Hungary replied that they would observe the Declaration of London upon condition of a like observance by their adversaries. Great Britain adopted it with certain modifications and additions which were set forth in an order in council of August 20,3 and France and Russia adhered to the British position. Acting Secretary of State Lansing explained to Ambassador Page in Great Britain, in an instruction of September 26, that the United States had inquired with regard to the adoption of the entire declaration by all of the great belligerent powers. Great Britain's adoption of it with modifications regardless of the attitude of British adversaries, he did not consider an acceptance of the American proposition. The Acting Secretary mentioned that in suggesting general acceptance of the entire declaration, the United States followed article 65, which stipulated that its provisions must be treated as a whole and could not be separated. Although the declaration was introduced by a statement that the rules contained in it corresponded in substance with generally recognized principles of international law, he believed that an agreement on many articles had been reached through reciprocal concessions. The United States, by accepting the declaration at the conference in London," was compelled to abandon certain rules of conduct which it had theretofore always maintained." 1 1 Document 1. * Document 4. Document 11. 3 |