THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 533



whole future, and makes it necessary that we should think the situ-
ation out afresh.
  I would suggest that you have a frank conversation with the Ger-
man Ambassador 17 and point out to him just our difficulty-the diffi-
culty of interpreting their recent assurances in the light of their new
and dangerous policy, and of understanding that new policy in view
of the fact that all the circumstances upon which they base their
adoption of it were known to them at the time of the Arabic note.
  I doubt whether it would be wise to address a note to him. I think
that it would be best, all things considered, to make the interchange
of explanations oral only, for the present.
      Faithfully Yours,
                                                         W.W.

763.72/2483i
  iThe Secretary of State to the Germcan Ambassador (Bernstorff)

                                WASHINGTON, February 19, 1916.
  MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: I desire to call your attention to the
enclosed clipping which appeared in the Washington Post of Friday,
February 18th, and seems to have been sent out by the International
News Service. The particular portion of the article to which I desire
to call your attention is the last two paragraphs in which the quo-
tation marks indicate that the statement was made by an official of
your Embassy.
  As this statement appears to imply a lack of good faith on the
part of this Government in the settlement of the Lusitania case, I
would like to be advised as to the authenticity of the statement and
also as to the official who is responsible for it.
  I am [etc.]                                  ROBERT LANSING
                            Enclosure ]
    Clipping From the "Washington Post," February 18, 1916

  The suggestion was made last night in diplomatic circles that the
present attitude of the United States on the Lusitania controversy
and the whole question of submarine warfare is based on political
expediency. There are three reasons influencing the administration
in its changed course, according to this diplomatic opinion. These
are:
  1. If Germany can be induced to consent to embody in her reply to
the Lusitania note the assurances for the future conduct of submarine
warfare he demands, President Wilson may claim a diplomatic
victory.

1' For a report of this conversation, see ibid., p. 172.