The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

THE PRESIDENT'S LUSITANIA NOTE

439

and the assurance that inhuman acts of such a kind would not
be repeated. To break relations without giving Germany
any chance to alter her submarine methods was contrary to
the President's instincts, and it is unlikely that the nation
would have supported him with the degree of unity which
such a decided step demanded.
He chose the second alternative, and on May 13 he sent to
Germany a note conceived and expressed with vigor, but
avoiding both the form and tone of an ultimatum. Rehearsing the earlier attacks made by submarines that had resulted
in the loss of American lives, 'a series of events which the
Government of the United States has observed with growing
concern,' he demanded that the Germans should
'disavow the acts of which the Government of the United
States complains, that they will make reparation so far as
reparation is possible for injuries which are without measure,
and that they will take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles
of warfare.... Expressions of regret and offers of reparation
in case of the destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake,
while they may satisfy international obligations, if no loss of
life results, cannot justify or excuse a practice, the natural
and necessary effect of which is to subject neutral nations
and neutral persons to new and unmeasurable risks.'
The note did not satisfy the bellicose insistence of Mr.
Roosevelt for an immediate break with Germany. Another
ex-President, however, William Howard Taft, described it
as 'admirable in tone... dignified in the level the writer
takes with respect to international obligations... it may
well call for our earnest concurrence and confirmation.' Mr.
Page himself expressed satisfaction and telegraphed to the
President, 'May I be allowed to express my personal congratulations on the note.' And he added that most of the