File No. 763.72111/710
The Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo) to the Secretary of State
Washington, October 26, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor to state that the following cablegrams were received Sunday from the collector of customs at Honolulu:
October 24, 1914, 4:50 p.m. Japanese battleship Hizen, which has been off this port since October 21, last evening at 5:15 p.m. came within three-mile limit and remained there until 6:50 p.m. At 9 a.m. to-day Hizen is moving slowly back and forth off entrance to harbor range six miles.
October 24, 1914, 11:50 p.m. The following radiogram was received by Admiral Moore at 2:15 p.m. to-day from the Japanese battleship Hizen off port [to] Japanese Consul:
I captured a German schooner this morning. I hope to release the crew at Honolulu. In order to have conference over the matter with American officials I wish to send a steam launch to Honolulu. Will you get permission of it from the customs collector? Also I wish to see you on the Hizen as soon as possible.
Admiral Moore replied as follows:
Captain G. Kawanawia [sic]: I am not authorized to confer with any officer on any subject concerning neutrality. All such matters are under control collector customs.
C. B. T. Moore
Upon receipt of copies of these radiograms I wirelessed Captain Kawanami as follows:
Am unwilling to grant you further communication with this port until I hear from the Department in Washington. Have taken the matter up with them.
After conference with Mr. Lansing the following reply was addressed to the collector:
Permit steam launch Japanese battleship Hizen to enter your port for conference. Also permit landing captured crew German schooner. Advise captain Japanese battleship Hizen that this Government deprecates his action in blockading your port in manner indicated. Observe strictly neutrality regulations regarding furnishing supplies.
This Department is in receipt this morning of further cablegrams from the collector as follows:
October 25, 1914, 5:42 p.m. Captain Brown, commanding revenue cutter Thetis, reports steam launches from Japanese battleship Hizen steaming without lights in this harbor Friday and Saturday nights. I have protested against the use of steam launches from Japanese battleship in our waters. Impossible to make commander of Japanese battleship Hizen observe our neutrality. Wire instructions immediately.
October 25, 1914, 6:39 p.m. Following radiogram received from Brown, commanding revenue cutter Thetis, naval station Honolulu:
Please phone collector of customs that Captain of Japanese cruiser Hizen has sent crew of Æolus on board the German steamer Locksun at anchor outside harbor. He sent wireless to the Thetis that situation demanded immediate disposal of crew of Æolus. One Chinaman in crew.
Brown
The Locksun is German merchant steamer lying in neutral waters.
[Page 660]I will thank you to advise me as soon as possible what further instructions you desire to be given to the collector in the matter. By direction of the Secretary,
Respectfully,
B. R.Newton
Assistant Secretary