File No. 300.115/860
The Consul General at London ( Skinner ) to the Secretary of State
London , October 8, 1914.
[Received October 19.]
No. 79]
Sir: I have the honor to call the attention of the Department to the fact that the German S. S. Sturmfels , from Calcutta to New York, with miscellaneous goods on board, has sought refuge in the Italian Red Sea port of Massaua. I have proposed to the Admiralty that this vessel be permitted to continue on her voyage to New York under a safe-conduct of some kind, in the interests of British and American cargo with which she is laden. I am unable to perceive how the granting of a safe-conduct under these circumstances would alter the British military, position in any way, and undoubtedly the conclusion proposed would be very greatly to the advantage of innocent shippers. I am acquainting the Department with this proposal in order to suggest whether it would not be well to come to an understanding with the British Government applicable to all similar cases. If the British Government assents to this proposal, it will be necessary to obtain also the assent of the German interests involved, but upon this point I see no reason to anticipate difficulty.
I have [etc.]