763.72111/2065
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I am sending you a confidential communication which we have received from the German Ambassador, together with a brief note from Mr. Lansing.56 I have gone over the matter with him, and while it seems quite clear that it is the intention of this vessel to supply a German war-vessel, still I cannot see how it violates the rules which it lays down and I think we must, therefore, leave with the allies the responsibility of preventing the delivery of the cargo. The German war-vessel would have the right to come into port and take coal and provisions and I do not know by what rule we can refuse clearance papers. It might be our duty to examine and see whether she was prepared to convert herself into [Page 214] a cruiser after leaving our port, but if really a merchant vessel she would seem to be entitled to clearance.
With assurances [etc.]
- Supra.↩