340.1115A/687b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)63
951. Department’s 942, May 22. The steamship President Roosevelt is about to sail from New York proceeding to Galway for the purpose of affording facilities to American citizens in Great Britain and Ireland to proceed to the United States at their own expense. Arrangements may be made by those desiring repatriation directly with the agents of the United States Lines Company in Great Britain and in Ireland.
Furthermore, notice has been sent to each belligerent indicating the general course the ship will follow, the date of her intended sailing from New York, the date of her probable arrival at Galway, including the statement that she carries no cargo outward bound and on the homewardbound voyage no cargo and only American citizens and their families as passengers. Furthermore, they have been notified that the vessel carries the American flag prominently displayed and will proceed fully lighted at night and that the vessel is unarmed and moving without convoy.
While the Government of the United States has given this notice to belligerent governments, and while this Government has every hope that this vessel will proceed without incident on its trip to Ireland and return, nevertheless, the American Government can make no guarantee that the vessel will safely arrive at Galway or that it will safely proceed from Galway on its return trip to the United States. There are dangers which are unknown to the officers and agents of the Government of the United States. These dangers are of such character as to preclude the United States from guaranteeing a safe passage for its citizens on board this vessel. It has been deemed wiser and in the interests of the intending passengers that the vessel proceed openly and that we frankly advise the authorities of the belligerent governments [Page 105] that she is unarmed and without convoy, but we are all cognizant of lurking dangers and the possibilities at least of accident.
The vessel itself is in excellent physical condition. Its crew is competent. Diligent watches will be maintained and every precaution of skilled navigation will be taken by the officers of the ship to the end that it reach Galway safely and that it return safely to New York.
However, under the circumstances existing in the neighborhood of the continent of Europe, the Department instructs you to advise the American citizens who are intending to take passage on this vessel that the American Government can make no guarantee as to the safety of the voyage and that each passenger must assume the risk for himself. You may give this advice individually and confidentially.
Repeat to Dublin.
- A similar telegram regarding the sending of the S. S. Washington to Bordeaux and Lisbon was sent as telegram No. 88, June 5, to the Consul at Bordeaux and, mutatis mutandis, as No. 60 to the Minister in Portugal.↩