Office of the Historian

File No. 811.142/266

The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State

American Embassy,
Paris, undated.
[Received September 1, 1914, 1:15 a.m.]

[Telegram]

Referring to the Department’s telegram of August 27. Following is literal translation of French reply:

In consideration of the purely charitable and humane purpose of the American Red Cross the Government of the Republic does not seek to ascertain whether the transfer of flag would not be questionable under the terms of the Declaration of London and it highly appreciates the generous sentiments of the promoters of this charitable expedition. It goes without saying, however, that this neutral hospital ship must satisfy the conditions enumerated under Article 3 of Convention X of The Hague, 1907, to wit:

1.
She must be employed exclusively by a duly recognized society.
2.
She must be authorized by the Government of the United States.
3.
She must be placed under the orders of one of the belligerents who in this case would seem to be either France or Great Britain who is master of the seas and who alone could assure the liberty of movement of the said hospital.
4.
She must be accepted by the belligerent who is to take control and who must notify the hostile belligerents of her name.

Herrick