File No. 763.72/692
The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice ) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum
The British Ambassador presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honour to communicate the text of a telegram received to-day from Sir E. Grey:
His Majesty’s Government have learnt that on or about August 26 an Iceland trawler is reported to have struck a mine 25 miles off the Tyne and sunk, and at least one foreign newspaper has stated that the mine was English. Although the German action in laying mines has forced the Admiralty to reserve to themselves the right to do likewise, the statement already made by His Majesty’s Government that no British mines have been laid remains absolutely true at this moment. The mines off the Tyne were laid 30 miles to seaward, not as part of any definite military operation nor by German ships of war, but by German trawlers of which a considerable number appear to have been engaged on this work; the number of one such trawler actually seen to be doing this was A. E. 24 Emden. It would be well if the conduct of those who ordered her to perform this act were carefully considered by neutral powers.
[Received August 31.]