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

LETTER FROM ZIMMERMANN

391

Herr Zimmermann to Colonel House
BERLIN, March 2, 1915
MY DEAR COLONEL:
Many thanks for your letter of February 17th. I regret to
see that you consider giving up your trip to Berlin which I
had counted on as offering a much more satisfactory opportunity for an interchange of ideas than has been possible up
to now.
I read with interest what you believe to be a possible beginning to the desired end. It seems to me, however, that you
are taking as a basis a more or less defeated Germany or one
nearly at the end of her resources. It is hardly necessary
for me to show in how far this is not the case. Although I
can assure you that Germany has the welfare of Belgium
very much at heart, still she is not able to forget what a
terrific cost was paid for the resistance our men encountered
there.
You may be sure, as I said before, that Germany's wish
for a permanent peace is as sincere as your own. If England
would consent to give up her claim to a monopoly on the seas
together with her two-to-one power standard, I think it might
be a good beginning.
I remain, my dear Colonel
Sincerely yours
ZIMMERMANN
Ambassador Gerard to Colonel House
BERLIN, March 6, 1915
MY DEAR COLONEL:
I hope you are coming here soon. Von Jagow said he
hoped you were coming, and while I see no prospect of peace
now, you could acquaint yourself with the general situation
and be in a better position to talk in the other capitals....
The feeling against America is in abeyance, waiting to see
what happens with relation to the latest English declaration