File No. 811.741/16

The German Chargé d’Affaires (Haniel) to the Secretary of State

To be transmitted in cipher through the United States Embassy in Berlin to the Foreign Office there.1

The United States Department of State has, on my request, under consideration the reopening of telegraphic communication between the German Embassy, Washington, D. C., and the Foreign Office in Berlin, as follows:

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(1)
All the belligerents may send and receive wireless messages in code and cipher via Sayville and Tuckerton. The American censors at those stations receive the codes and ciphers used, in order to be able to see that the neutrality of the United States is not violated. Ciphers and codes to remain known only to the censors and the United States Government, also the contents of the messages sent; or
(2)
Germany may use the English or French cables. The telegrams of all the belligerents submitted to censure as stated before.

This is not a proposal but merely a proposition under consideration upon which the United States Government reserves decision.1 I recommend acceptance of these terms warmly. The United States Government will consider also proposals of the German Government in this connection, provided strict neutrality is guaranteed. Immediate answer requested.

Haniel
  1. The following, with slight changes in phraseology, was sent to the Ambassador in Germany, for transmission to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, by telegram, August 11, 7 p.m.
  2. The foregoing sentence is inserted in the handwriting of the Secretary of State.