05/14/1916
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
"We shall not believe that they are hostile to us unless and until we are obliged to believe it."
"I refuse to believe that it is the intention of the German authorities to do in fact what they have warned us they will feel at liberty to do."
"We do not desire any hostile conflict with the Imperial German Government."
"We are the sincere friends of the German people and earnestly desire to remain at peace with the Government which speaks for them."