The last word as to the final attitude to be adopted by the German Government will no doubt come from the military side.
In conformity with the instructions received, _I will nevertheless uphold with all firmness the political arguments against the U-boat warfare_.
Baron Flotow will have occasion to meet the Secretary of State this afternoon.
I had sent Baron Flotow, a Chief of Department, to Berlin at the same time, in order that he might support all Hohenlohe's efforts and spare no pains to induce Germany to desist from her purpose.
Flotow sent me the following report on January 15: After a two-days' stay in Berlin my impression is that the question of the unrestricted U-boat warfare has again been brought to the front by the leading men in the German Empire.

This question--according to Herr Zimmermann--under conditions of the greatest secrecy where the public is concerned, is now under debate between the heads of the Army and Navy and the Foreign Office; they insist on a decision.

For if the unrestricted U-boat warfare is to be opened it must be at a time when, in view of the vast impending Anglo-French offensive on the Western front, it will make itself felt.

The Secretary of State mentioned the month of February.
I wish in the following account to summarise the reasons put forward by the Germans for the justification of the unrestricted U-boat warfare: Time is against us and favours the Entente; if, therefore, the Entente can keep up the desire for war there will be still less prospect of our obtaining a peace on our own terms.

The enemy's last Note to Wilson is again a striking example of their war energy.
It will be impossible for the Central Powers to continue the war after 1917 with any prospect of success.