File No. 763.72111/73
The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Secretary of State
Navy Department,
Washington,
August 22, 1914.
Sir: I have the honor to forward herewith, for
your information, copies of telegrams received and sent by this
Department relative to the enforcement of the President’s neutrality
proclamation during the existing wars among certain European
countries.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure 1—Circular
telegram]
The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to naval officers
charged with enforcing the President’s
proclamation of neutrality
Navy Department,
Washington
,
August 8, 1914.
No cipher or code messages permitted to be handled with radio ship or
shore stations of belligerent nations by any government or
commercial radio station under jurisdiction of United States nor
permitted to be sent from any radio station in United States via
foreign radio stations if destined to belligerent. Radio messages
containing information relative to operations, material, or
personnel of armed forces of any belligerent nation will be
considered unneutral in character and will not be Handled except in
case of cipher messages to or from United States officials. In
general censoring official will assure himself beyond doubt that no
message of unneutral character is handled. Censors will demand, if
necessary, that messages be presented for their ruling in a language
that is understandable to them. In case of doubt as to character of
message it should be stopped and contents with full explanation of
details forwarded to Department (Operations) by land line for
instructions as to proper procedure.
[Enclosure 2—Circular
telegram]
The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to commanding officers of navy yards
Navy Department,
Washington
,
August 21, 1914.
Collector of customs of a port is official charged with matters
connection neutrality proclamation in port under his jurisdiction.
Treasury Department will instruct those officials; copy instructions
will be forwarded you. Be prepared to advise and render assistance
in enforcement of proclamation and instructions when requested.
Following agreement with Treasury Department regarding radio: In
ports having naval radio stations, naval vessels, naval stations, or
Department represented in other ways by naval officers, questions of
radio handled directly by such naval representatives. Collector of
customs in such ports supply information arrival of all vessels
having radio. Ports no representative Navy Department, collector of
customs seal up radio apparatus merchant vessels belligerent powers
while in port.
[File copy not signed]
[Page 676]
[Enclosure 3—Telegram]
The Commanding Officer of the Charleston Navy
Yard (Helm) to the Secretary of the
Navy (Daniels)
Navy Yard,
Charleston
,
August 22, 1914.
Referring Secretary of Navy’s telegram August 21, shall radio
apparatus merchant vessel belligerent powers in this port be sealed
by naval representatives? Request instructions.
Helm
[Enclosure 4—Telegram]
The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Commanding
Officer of the Charleston Navy Yard (Helm)
Navy Department,
Washington
,
August 22, 1914.
Replying your telegram to-day, carry out President’s executive order
regarding radio communication and instructions for officers charged
with enforcement same, sealing radio apparatus of merchant vessels
belligerent powers if necessary to insure compliance.
Daniels
