File No. 763 72112/468
The German Embassy to the Secretary of State
Washington , December 10, 1914.
[Received December 11.]
The New York Herald announced lately that the United States Government had protested against England’s actions in seizing the cargo of American ships consigned to specified consignees in neutral ports under pretext that it contained contraband of war. According. to the same paper the British Ambassador has presented a note giving the assurance that England would not retain. American ships by searching for contraband.
The German Embassy would be interested to learn if that announcement is true, and if so, whether the United States are willing to prevent the British under the above mentioned conditions from seizing relative contraband, especially foodstuffs, even if the goods are destined to Germany.