File No. 763.72111/471
The Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Peters) to the Secretary of State
Washington, October 15, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit for your information a copy of a letter dated October 14, 1914, from the collector of customs at Norfolk, enclosing a copy of a communication from the British Vice Consul at Newport News, Virginia, dated October 14, 1914, calling attention to the Italian S. S. Amistà now loading with coal at Newport News.1
The British Vice Consul states that it is suspected that the coal is intended for the use of the enemies of His British Majesty’s Government, and requests that clearance be denied.
The collector reports that the Amistà has not yet offered to clear for any port, and that it is his understanding, under the regulations as laid down by this department, that when this vessel offers to clear she is entitled to clearance papers, unless he is not satisfied of her status as a merchantman; and that unless otherwise instructed by this department, he will proceed according to this understanding and clear the Amistà upon proper application for her clearance.
I have accordingly advised the collector by wire to clear the vessel unless satisfactory evidence is presented tending to show that the proposed clearance is not bona fide.
Respectfully,
- Not printed.↩