841.857 Athenia/61: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—9:15 a.m.]
1059, State Secretary Weizsaecker called me to the Foreign Office today at 12:15 and after showing me a report from London; to the [Page 284] effect that a Donaldson Steamship Liner Athenia carrying passengers many of whom were Americans was sunk 200 miles northwest of the Hebrides asked me to inform my Government immediately that the German naval authorities have declared that there are no German submarines in that area and that furthermore German naval vessels have received strict instructions to treat merchant vessels in accordance with international rules.
Telephoned at 12:30 p.m. to American Embassy Paris via American Legation Hague for transmission to Department.