File No. 811.142/265
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) 1
Washington , August 27, 1914.
[Telegram]
Department advised by American Red Cross that it has taken over the German S. S. Prinz Joachim of the Hamburg-American Packet Company under charter at the nominal charge of one dollar to be commanded by the courtesy of the Navy Department by retired naval officers and manned by crew of civilian Americans for the purpose of carrying units composed of three surgeons and twelve nurses each, together with hospital supplies, to all the countries involved in the war, which assistance has been accepted by their governments. This ship will probably enter English, French, and Dutch ports only. The ship will be painted the colors prescribed by the Hague convention, white with a red strake, and its name will be changed to the Red Cross and it will fly both the Red Cross and the American flags. Under the joint resolution of Congress approved the 20th instant authority is given to American Red Cross during the continuance of the present wars to charter a vessel of foreign register to carry the American flag for “transportation of nurses and supplies and for all uses in connection with the work of said society.” After futile efforts to secure an American or English ship the packet company tendered this ship as a free gift to assist the Red Cross work, the transaction being actually a loss to the company as the crew is left on its hands. The Red Cross obligated itself to deliver the ship back to the port of New York in the same condition as received within thirty days with the option, if the necessities of war demand it, to make a similar voyage under the same conditions.
As the belligerents have accepted the assistance of Red Cross units and as the object of the expedition is purely charitable and in the interest of humanity and for the amelioration of the sick and wounded of the armies in the field, you will bring the foregoing immediately to the attention of the British Government and press for assurances at the earliest possible moment that this vessel will not be hindered or molested during its voyage or its stay at belligerent ports.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, to the Ambassadors in France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia.↩