Letter of State Standing Up For American Rights During World War I, Drafted by Pres. Woodrow Wilson

With the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, American foreign policy became a struggle to remain out of the war and maintain the political and commercial rights of a neutral in the face of opposition from both belligerents. Britain used its powerful navy to establish a blockade of Germany, and the Germans in turn tried to counter-blockade Britain by using U-Boats to sink shipping bound there. By the start of 1915, it was clear that the war would in part be a battle of commerce, with neutrals such as the U.S. caught in the middle.

On March 1, Britain stated that it was instituting a blockade controlling all passage to and from Germany by sea. No vessels sailing to Germany would be allowed to proceed to a German port. Moreover, any vessel sailing for a neutral European port, having aboard goods of German ownership or destination, might be seized. These actions by Britain significantly increased American concerns about interference with neutral rights.

Pres. Wilson drafted his own response to the British government, entitled “Outline Sketch of a Note to Great Britain. 19 March, 1915.” In it, he stated that Britain’s blockade was overextended, that he expected American shipping would not be interfered with, and that he would hold Britain responsible for the actions of its navy. Belligerent rights over neutral commerce, he pointed out, are limited.

He then made a few hand-written changes in the text, the most important one being to mention that America had always fought for the shipping rights of neutrals. These were the issues in the forefront of the mind of the president who more than any other set the tone for U.S. foreign policy for the next century. This is a brief excerpt of his four page paper. “…The cordon of blockading ships which it is intended to maintain is, however, of such an extent, the blockade as indicated to the plan announced covers so great an area of the high seas, that it seems that neutral vessels must pass through it in order to approach many important neutral ports which it is not Great Britain’s privilege to blockade, and which she of course does not mean to blockade. The Government of the United States takes it for granted…that the approach of American merchantmen to neutral ports situated upon the long line of coast affected will not be interfered with when it is known that they do not carry goods which are contraband of war or goods consigned to a destination within the belligerent territory affected…His Majesty’s Government has undertaken a very unusual method of blockade which it will be difficult to confine within the limits required by the law of nations; and it is natural to infer that the commanders of His Majesty’s vessels of war engaged in the blockade will be instructed to be very careful that the blockade is not made to involve consequences to the trade of neutrals greater and more burdensome than those which have hitherto been regarded as inevitable when the ports of one belligerent are blockaded by the ships of another…The Government of the United States notes with gratification the assurances conveyed in the note of His Majesty’s Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs that special care will be taken to invade neutral rights [his note] interfere with neutral shipping no further than the necessities of the blockade make unavoidable; but the possibilities of serious interference are so many, the methods and circumstances of the blockade are so unusual and are likely to constitute so great an impediment and embarrassment to neutral commerce, that the Government of the United States feels that it is only candid and in the interest of avoiding future misunderstandings to say that it apprehends many interferences which may involve His Majesty’s Government in heavy responsibilities for acts of His Majesty’s naval officers which may make the methods of blockade which are now being adopted clearly obnoxious to the well recognized rights of neutral nations on the high seas…”

He then sent it with a cover letter to Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.  After being reviewed and revised at the State Department, the final version was sent as a Letter of State to Britain on March 30.  Britain did not respond to this letter until July, but by that time, everything had changed.  In May, the German Navy sank the passenger ship Lusitania.  Of the 1,950 people on board, 1,198 drowned, including nearly 200 Americans.

This caused a firestorm; the American people were furious at Germany and coming to actively sympathize with Britain.  Wilson’s policies continue to shape U.S. foreign relations today, and “Wilsonian” has became a term to describe an emphasis on internationalism, moralism and dedication to the self-determination of peoples and extension of democracy.  It is indeed extraordinary to find a crucial foreign policy document concerning the Great War crafted and typed by Wilson (rather than a staff member or secretary).