12, 1917._ To notify Your Excellency.
Count Wedel has been instructed to submit to me the following three requests from his Government: (1) Count Tarnowski is not to hand over his credentials until the situation between Germany and America is clear.
(2) Count Tarnowski must protest to Mr.Wilson against his having tried to make the neutrals turn against Germany.
(3) On the outbreak of war with Germany Count Tarnowski must be recalled.
I have refused the first two items and accepted the last.
As we should not have been able to prevent Germany from beginning the U-boat warfare, the only alternative for us was to use all means in our power to maintain our relations with America, and thus enable us later to play the part of mediator, although this could only be for that period during which America, having broken off relations, had not yet declared war.

My answer of March 5, 1917, to America's request for an explanation of our standpoint was sent with the object of preventing America from breaking off relations with us, and also to keep from the public the knowledge of our divergence from Germany.
This will be found noted in the appendix.[6] It met with success so far that America continued diplomatic relations with us until April 9, 1917.
[Illustration: COUNT TISZA.

_Photo: Stanley's Press Agency._] I had a very lively correspondence with Stephen Tisza in consequence of my answer.

I received the following letter on March 3: DEAR FRIEND,--In the interests of the cause I can only greatly regret that I had no opportunity of appreciating the definite sense of our _aide-memoire_ before it was dispatched.

Apart from other less important matters, I cannot conceal my painful surprise that we repeatedly and expressly admit having given a promise in our _Ancona_ Note.