Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, Supplement, The World War

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)¹

Department of State,
Washington, August 14, 1914.

[Telegram]

Department is informed that steamers Moltke and König Albert are now at Genoa and could be of great assistance in relief work by carrying home many stranded and destitute Americans. You may informally approach the Foreign Office, pointing out that Genoa is the rendezvous for thousands of Americans in southern Europe who are unable to find transportation to the United States, and inquire whether, in these circumstances, and if the United States guarantees that all of the passengers are American citizens, the British Government will be disposed to regard these ships as free from capture during the passage from Genoa to New York. Department is making similar inquiry of French Government.

Referring to your August 12, 9 p.m.,¹ you may inform Anderson of Department’s action in this case.

Bryan

1. The Same, Mutatis Mutandis, to the Ambassadors in France.
1. Not printed.