Only the cordial personal relations which prevailed between Grey and Page prevented the crisis from producing the most disastrous results.

Finally, on October 17th, Page proposed by cable an arrangement which he hoped would settle the matter.

This was that the King should issue a proclamation accepting the Declaration with practically the modifications suggested above, and that a new Order in Council should be issued containing a new list of contraband.

Sir Edward Grey was not to ask the American Government to accept this proclamation; all that he asked was that Washington should offer no objections to it.
It was proposed that the United States at the same time should publish a note withdrawing its suggestion for the adoption of the Declaration, and explaining that it proposed to rest the rights of its citizens upon the existing rules of international law and the treaties of the United States.

This solution was accepted.