Laughlin to Secretary of State
Title
Laughlin to Secretary of State
Creator
Laughlin, Irwin B. (Irwin Boyle), 1871-1941
Identifier
WWP25375
Date
1918 October 30
Description
Secret communication of the views in Europe on the possibility of continued German submarine actions.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
World War, 1914-1918--Naval operations--Submarine
Contributor
Danna Faulds
Relation
WWP25374
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
London
Dated Oct 30, 1918
Recd, 3:40pm.
Secretary of State
Washington,
Urgent. 3219. October 30, 1pm.
Most secret. Harrison from Bell. Pelo has reported to his Government from Berlin that the continued cessation of submarine attacks on passenger ships is dependent on the conclusion of an Armistice and that if the negotiations are abortive a recrudescence of such activity may be expected.
Our friends tell me that when Austria's collapse appeared inevitable, the German Government ordered the German submarines in the Mediterranean to the number of about thirty to take in fuel and the nearest Austro-Hungarian Adriatic port and to come north.
Regarding the present apparent cessation of German submarine activity and similar reports from Scandinavia that submarines are returning to German ports, Hall informs me that these reports are untrue and are being put about by the enemy to put us off our guard with respect to submarine concentration in certain localities which is now taking place. Am privately informed Sims is fully informed on this point.
Finally Ambassador Hall informs me that he has learned from an absolutely sure source that at a recent council in Berlin the German Emperor said: "During peace negotiations or even after peace,
my U boats will find an opportunity to destroy the English fleet."
Hall asked to be excused from divulging the source of this
astonishing piece of information but he assures me that it is as
certain as the wireless to Madrid and he dictated what I have
quoted as being the exact words used by the Emperor.
LAUGHLIN
CS
Dated Oct 30, 1918
Recd, 3:40pm.
Secretary of State
Washington,
Urgent. 3219. October 30, 1pm.
Most secret. Harrison from Bell. Pelo has reported to his Government from Berlin that the continued cessation of submarine attacks on passenger ships is dependent on the conclusion of an Armistice and that if the negotiations are abortive a recrudescence of such activity may be expected.
Our friends tell me that when Austria's collapse appeared inevitable, the German Government ordered the German submarines in the Mediterranean to the number of about thirty to take in fuel and the nearest Austro-Hungarian Adriatic port and to come north.
Regarding the present apparent cessation of German submarine activity and similar reports from Scandinavia that submarines are returning to German ports, Hall informs me that these reports are untrue and are being put about by the enemy to put us off our guard with respect to submarine concentration in certain localities which is now taking place. Am privately informed Sims is fully informed on this point.
Finally Ambassador Hall informs me that he has learned from an absolutely sure source that at a recent council in Berlin the German Emperor said: "During peace negotiations or even after peace,
my U boats will find an opportunity to destroy the English fleet."
Hall asked to be excused from divulging the source of this
astonishing piece of information but he assures me that it is as
certain as the wireless to Madrid and he dictated what I have
quoted as being the exact words used by the Emperor.
LAUGHLIN
CS
Original Format
Letter
To
Lansing, Robert, 1864-1928
Files
Collection
Citation
Laughlin, Irwin B. (Irwin Boyle), 1871-1941, “Laughlin to Secretary of State,” 1918 October 30, WWP25375, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.