File No. 811.142/281
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, September 6, 1914.
[Received September 7, 9:10 a.m.]
[Telegram]
47. Extremely urgent. Department’s telegram No. 55, September 4. German Government approved American Red Cross plans as stated. Ship will not be molested by Germans so long as she adheres only to purpose of expedition. Please transmit following message to German Consul General, New York, at request of Foreign Office:
27. Imperial Chancellor and Hamburg-American Line authorize you immediately to issue ship’s papers to steamer Hamburg which has been chartered to American Red Cross and should sail for Europe September 7 under the American flag in name of Red Cross.
Gerard