German Reply to Wilson, Either, Or Reverse

Following the sinking of the British steamship RMS Falaba on March 28, 1915, which resulted in the death of a single American, Leon Thrasher, US President Woodrow Wilson sent an official memorandum to the Germans insisting they discontinue unrestricted submarine war without delay or else diplomatic relations with the US would be severed.

Two armored arms holding sealed document on which is inscribed: Der .V. Boot Waffe/ leisten wir nicht/ Verzicht!/ Volkerrechtswid/ rige Methoden/ England/ vom Zaune bricht/ den Krieg Ihr kurzeres/ so Ihr stellt die/ Waffenlieferung ein/ Wilson will doch der beste Neutrale/ sein! (“We will not give up our submarine weapon; England is breaking international law; shorten the war by the delivery of weapons since it is Wilson who wants to be the champion of the Neutrals.”); below: 5. Mai/ 1916; around: DEVTSCHE·ANTWORT AN AMERIKA (“the German answer to America”)