763.72/2338½
The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: In answer of your favor of to-day I beg to say that since our last conversation I have taken the greatest possible trouble to get instructions from my Government regarding the Lusitania case. Many of my reports and probably also of my telegrams have, in violation of international law, been detained by our enemies. I did, however, receive a wireless message in code last Monday evening, which passed through the State Department and which informed me that a cipher telegram containing instructions had been given to Mr. Gerard on Monday. It should, therefore, if not detained by our enemies, have been delivered to the State Department yesterday or latest to-day.
I remain [etc.]