THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 115



is sound, there is no legal obstacle to such sales, and no authority
conferred by law upon this Government to prevent sales or to punish
American manufacturers who make them.
  In order to carry out your wish, made to me over the telephone a,
few days ago, that submarines in sections should not be sold here, I
think that it would be well for the Department to be advised as soon
as possible of the action which it should take in this matter, either
formally or informally, since it is possible that the manufacturers
may proceed without asking the Department's views if they have
been advised by counsel that the sales are not illegal.
      Very sincerely yours,
                                               ROBERT LANSING

763.72111/1073i
         President Wilson to the Acting Secvetawy of State

                               WASHINGTON, November 30, 1914.
  MY DEAR MIR. LANSING: As I intimated to you, I gave the matter
-very serious thought when the question of the submarines was brought
up. I feel that it is really our duty (in the spirit, at any rate, of the
Alabama decision) to prevent submarines being shipped from this
country even in parts, and I hope that you will find a way of checking
and preventing this if it is contemplated.
  Always
      Cordially and faithfully yours,
                                              WOODROW WILSON

763.72111 Em 1/1
            The Secretary of State to President Wilson

                               WASHINGTON, December 24, 1914.
  MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am sending for your judgment a rather
important communication to the German Ambassador.7
  You will notice in the papers enclosed a translation of the note
-received from the German Embassy 8 in which they admit the right
of belligerents to buy arms, ammunition, etc., in this country, but
complain of the inquiries which we make in regard to ships carrying
coal to war vessels.
  Mr. Lansing and I have gone over this very carefully and you
will notice first that we call attention to the recognition of the right

'Foreign Relations, 1914, supp., p. 647.
'See note from the German Ambassador, Dec. 15, 1914, ibid., p. 646.