File No. 763.72111/721a
The Acting Secretary of State to all Seaport Consuls
Washington, November 22, 1914.
[Circular telegram]
Department desires to obtain complete information regarding vessels arriving at port where you are stationed from ports of United States with view to ascertaining whether such vessels have discharged any portion of their cargoes at sea to belligerent warships or otherwise rendered unneutral service. Department regards it at the present time as one of your most important duties to keep it fully and immediately informed by cable of the arrival of any vessel from an American port, name of owner of vessel, nature of her cargo, presence of supercargo, the consignor and consignee, whether consignee expects the cargo and intends to have it discharged or sent on to belligerent warships at sea, and whether she has en route discharged to belligerent warships at sea any cargo loaded in American ports. You will therefore make these reports without waiting for special instructions in each case, and follow them up with such further information as you will from time to time endeavor to ascertain on the subject of this instruction.