File No. 862.801/1

The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State

No. 271]

Sir: With reference to your cable No. 598 of November 9, 1914, and my reply No. 8501 of November 16, I have the honor to transmit [Page 470] to you herewith a copy in translation of a communication received from the Imperial Foreign Office, dated November 14, 1914, relative to the regulations for navigation in the German bay of the North Sea.

Two copies of the publication, entitled Nachrichten für Seefahrer, in which these regulations are printed, are likewise enclosed.

I have [etc.]

James W. Gerard

[Enclosure—Translation]

The German Foreign Office to the American Embassy

No. II U 4970—89541]

The Foreign Office has the honor to inform the Embassy of the United States of America in reply to the note verbale of 12th instant, F. O. No. 1078, that the following are the material regulations, governing navigation in the German bay of the North Sea:

1. Steamships are permitted to make for the German coast, to enter or leave the mouths of rivers only from sunrise to sunset, and in clear weather. Ships attempting to point for the coast in the dark, in foggy or thick weather, run the risk of being shot at.

2. All commercial steamers bound for the Eider, Elbe, Weser, and Jade must first point for the Listertief Buoy; those bound for the Ems should make directly for its mouth.

3.In the interest of the safety of the ships, a pilot is obligatory from the Listertief Buoy.

4. If ships can not obtain pilots, on account of bad weather or for other reasons, they must either anchor or put out to sea again.

The approximate location of the Listertief Buoy is 55° 3¾’ N., 8° 17½’ E.

For the rest reference made to issue No. 59 of the Nachrichten für Seefahrer of 4th instant, pages 1006 and 1007, two copies of which are attached.1

American shipping interests can obtain any further information from the Nachrichten für Seefahrer which is accessible to them.

  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.