File No. 763.72/257
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, August 7, 1914.
[Received August 9, 6 a.m.]
[Telegram]
Foreign Office informs me German ports strewn with mines, and requests that shippers be warned in time against navigating in ports which might serve as bases for foreign forces.2
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The exact text of the German verbal note of August 7, which is thus inaccurately summarized, was not received in the Department of State until 1920, when it was found to have been as follows:
↩The Foreign Office has the honor to inform the Embassy of the United States of America that during the state of war in which the German Empire now finds itself, the necessity will arise, according to prospects, of blockading with mines the points of departure for attacks on the part of hostile fleets against Germany, and the ports of shipment, departing and arriving, of troop transports.
The Foreign Office begs the United States Embassy to bring this to the knowledge of its Government as soon as possible in order that shipping may be warned in due time against entering harbors and roadsteads which may serve as bases for the hostile forces.