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Unsigned typed draft of a letter by President Woodrow Wilson, corrected throughout in Wilson's own hand, seven pages on four sets of adjoining sheets, 8 x 12.5, blindstamped Department of State letterhead, April 12, 1915. Important draft of a letter to "His Excellency Count J. H. von Bernstorff, Imperial German Ambassador," replying to Bernstorff's charge that the United States was unfairly supplying munitions to nations at war with the Central Powers during World War II. Wilson insists that the United States is sincerely neutral and a true friend to Germany, striking a diplomatic but firm tone. He makes numerous corrections in pencil throughout the text, adding a few full sentences on the second page and striking through the entire text of the fifth page.
In part, with Wilson's handwritten corrections in brackets: "I have given [thoughtful] consideration to Your Excellency's note of April 4, 1915, enclosing a memorandum of the same date, in which [you] discuss the action of this Government relative to trade between the United States and Germany, and the attitude of this Government in regard to the exportation of arms and ammunition from the United States to the nations at war with Germany. While I am not unmindful that [one] consequence of the naval war waged between Germany and her enemies has been to deprive the German people [to a large degree] of the commercial privileges which they previously enjoyed, and has [almost entirely] prevented intercourse between them and neutral nations across the seas, I am unable to perceive any justification for Your Excellency's unfavorable comments upon this Government's failure to insist upon an equalization of American trade [relations] with all belligerent nations which the fortunes of war have made unequal.
[I am sincerely sorry to note, moreover, that in making these comments you use language which seems] to impugn the good faith of the United States in the performance of its duty as a neutral. [I take it for granted that no such implication was intended, but it is so evident that Your Excellency is laboring under certain false impressions that I beg to make the view of the Government of the United States on this matter were plain.] It should be understood that the views here expressed are not advanced by way of apology or excuse, but for the purpose of showing that [your] memorandum is based on an idea of a neutral's [duty] and on a conception of a belligerent's privilege to pass judgment upon that conduct, when the commercial rights of the neutral are affected by another belligerent, which this Government considers to be erroneous.
In connection with the conduct of this Government in maintaining its trade I note that Your Excellency has failed to make any reference to the attempt of the United States to secure from the German and British Governments mutual modifications of the measures proposed by each respectively in regard to the interruption of trade on the high seas, which attempt, though unsuccessful, indicated [at least] its impartial good will towards the belligerents. Such an omission of reference to a fact which exhibited so friendly a spirit to both parties in the present conflict, was made presumably through inadvertence, but, in view of Your Excellency's comments, [I cannot but regard it as regretable].
Furthermore, no reference is made to the diplomatic correspondence in which the United States has set forth its attitude toward the unlawful molestation of its trade by Germany's adversaries. These [acts, I beg leave to point out,] do not comport with Your Excellency's assumption 'that the United States Government acquiesces in the violations of international law by Great Britain.'
As to the course, which has been pursued by this Government in the matter of detentions or seizures by Great Britain of American vessels and American cargoes, I believe that it is my duty to state frankly to Your Excellency that interference with the rights of American citizens in regard to their property on the high seas is a matter between this Government and the government interfering with those rights, and that criticism of this Government's course in [such matters] made by another government, which cannot be fully informed as to the facts, and which can not know the reasons for the course taken, is an assumption of a privilege which does not appear to be in accord with international custom and usage…
This memorandum, [in adverting] to the question of the sale and exportation of arms by citizens of the United States to the enemies of Germany, [seems to imply] that the continuance of that trade manifests an unneutral spirit by this Government and an unfair attitude on its part towards Germany. This Government, as Your Excellency I believe is aware, holds the opinion that any change in its laws of neutrality during the progress of a war, which would affect unequally the relations of the United States with the belligerents, would be a departure from the principle of strict neutrality, by which it has consistently directed its actions. The placing of an embargo on the trade in arms at the present time would constitute such a change, and be a direct violation of the neutrality of the United States. It is well known that several bills or resolutions were introduced by individual members in the last session of the Congress purposing, in one form or another, to prohibit the exportation of war material. The Congress, however declined to place such legislation upon the statute books. In view of the attitude of this Government as to its neutral obligations, and the manifest approval of the Congress of that attitude by its refusal, while a state of war exists, to amend the laws affecting the neutrality of the United States, this Government can perceive no practical benefit to be gained by traversing the arguments advanced in the memorandum of Your Excellency, or by continuing further a discussion of this subject." In fine condition, with a fold across the bottom, and rusty paperclip impression to the top edge.
Mere weeks after the date of this draft, Germany would launch its campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare with the sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915—an act that killed over 100 citizens of the United States and tested Wilson's resolve in maintaining neutrality. Although the attack sparked outrage in the United States and galvanized support for a war effort, it would be almost two more years before the United States declared war on Germany and entered World War I.
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