File No. 763.72111/446
The Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo) to the Secretary of State
Treasury Department,
Washington,
October 13, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy of a telegram, dated the 10th instant, from the collector of
customs at San Francisco further in regard to the cargo of coal of the
Mazatlan, which it appears ultimately reached
the German cruiser Leipzig.
I will thank you for advice of any action that you may desire taken in
the matter by this department or its customs officers.
A copy of the collector’s telegram has also been forwarded to the
Attorney General for such instructions to the United States Attorney or
other action, if any, as he may deem necessary.
By direction of the Secretary,
Respectfully,
A. J. Peters
Assistant Secretary
[Page 624]
[Enclosure—Telegram]
The Collector of Customs in San Francisco
(Davis) to the Secretary
of the Treasury (McAdoo)
San Francisco
,
October 10, 1914.
Referring your telegram August 22 advising me of conditions imposed
by State Department concerning release of steamer Mazatlan with coal consigned to Guaymas, Mexico. Before
clearance was granted Mazatlan, German acting
Consul General entered into written agreement as follows:
Referring to certain coal now on the Mexican steamer Mazatlan, in the port of San Francisco,
California, to wit, 7,143 sacks of coal described in the manifest of
F. G. Braue Company, sworn to August 20, 1914, to be landed at
Guaymas, Mexico, said coal having been purchased from the Western
Fuel Company on or about August 11, 1914, by John Rothschild and
Company for the German Consulate, intended at that time to be
supplied to the German cruiser Leipzig, I, as acting Imperial German
Consul General, hereby agree and guarantee: (1) That said coal will
be delivered in regular course by said vessel Mazatlan at Guaymas, Mexico; (2) That said coal will not,
nor will any part thereof, be delivered to any German war vessel
that has already received coal in a United States port since the
outbreak of present hostilities between Germany and other European
nations within three months after the receipt by such vessel of coal
at a United States port; (3) That if the said coal or any part
thereof be delivered to any other German war vessel not having
received coal as aforesaid such delivery shall prevent such war
vessel from receiving coal in any United States port within a period
of three months after such delivery.
Respectfully,
Imperial German Consulate, by
V. Schack
Recently hearing rumored that this coal had been put aboard German
cruiser Leipzig I requested Admiral Pond to
wireless commander cruiser Albany to ascertain, if possible,
disposition of coal, Albany having been in
Guaymas Harbor at the time and in position to furnish information.
Admiral Pond has just delivered to me translation of radiogram in
part as follows:
Steamer Mazatlan delivered 500 tons bags coal
on lighter to her agents, Guaymas, Mexico. Leipzig later purchased this and 480 tons more of railroad
company which she took on board at Guaymas.
Evans, Howard
Assuming information from Evans, commander Albany, to be
correct, German acting Consul General clearly violated contract
entered into with this office. The matter is submitted for
information and action of proper authorities.
Davis
