THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 469



                             [Enclosure]
Mr. J. P. TIumulty (Secretary to the President) to President Wilson

                                    AvoN, N. J., August 21, 1915.
  MY DEAR GovERnNOR: I intended to return to Washington imme-
,diately upon receipt of the news of the sinking of the Arabic but
upon second thought determined to remain here until Sunday after-
noon. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, I thought that it
would be wise to leave you free. My time here, however, is occupied
in considering the issue raised by the sinking of this ship. My mind
is clear as to the following:
  1. The people are very calm and apparently are unmoved by this
new situation. But they have an unfaltering confidence in the Presi-
dent and are willing to follow him wherever he may wish to go.
  2. There is no jingoistic sentiment among the people.
  3. Radical action is not demanded (by radical action I mean a
declaration of war and a severance of all relations with Germany).
  4. There is, however, a universal demand for the recall of von
Bernstorff and the withdrawal of Gerard. If no radical action is
intended, the latter course should follow very speedily after an ascer-
tainment of all the facts in the matter. The very heart of action of
this kind lies in the speed and the expedition in which it is carried
out and done.
                                                  J. P. TUMTuLTY

462.11 Se 8/411
       Mr. Chandler P. Anderson to the Secretary of State

                                               AUGUST 23, 1915.
  I had my interview with Bernstorff this evening and am returning
tonight to Newport for a few days going back to York Harbor on
Thursday with Harriet.
  I told Bernstorff as I suggested to you over the telephone on Sun-
day about the possibilities in the last paragraph in the Frye note if
they would agree not to repeat the acts complained of pending arbi-
tration, pointing out that the same arrangement in the Lusitania,
case would deprive Great Britain of the only views they have ever
advanced in defense of their so-called blockade which in turn is the
only excuse Germany has for its submarine attacks on merchant
vessels. He saw at once that they could throw the entire responsibil-
ity for illegal interference with American rights upon G. B. by
adopting this course and if G. B. did not adopt the same course our
relations to the situation would be on a different basis. He is turning
the matter over in his mind and is going to prepare a cable to his
Government which he will show to you when he comes to Washington
as he intends to do as soon as he gets authority to deal with the situa-