File No. 840.48/378a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page )2
Washington , August 15, 1914, 8 p.m.
[Telegram]
For the purpose of providing necessary transportation for Americans in Europe, many of whom are in distress and need to come home as quickly as possible, the Government is considering the chartering of ships to be used exclusively for this purpose. There are not immediately available suitable ships of American or English registry. It may be possible for the Government to charter for the specific purposes indicated four or more German ships now in American waters of large passenger-carrying capacity. Possibly these ships would or could be sent on these particular voyages under the American flag, but it would be necessary, in all probability, to have them manned partly or largely by their present German officers and crews, although the ships would be in charge and under the general supervision of a United States official or officials. The ships would be coaled and provisioned so that they would not have to take on supplies [Page 479] of any kind while in a foreign port, nor would any of the officers or crew, except Americans, be permitted to go ashore. As these ships are now in American waters, fully manned and ready to sail promptly, it would be of the greatest assistance to our American citizens abroad if such arrangements could be promptly made. It should not be necessary to charter the ships for a longer period than sixty or ninety days at the utmost. Please take this question up immediately with the British Government and ascertain if it would be willing to assist this Government in removing its nationals from England to the extent indicated by permitting the German ships so chartered to enter some harbor, to be designated by the British Government, and if the British Government would be willing to extend every facility to such ships for this purpose only. If the British Government desires, none of the ships need tie up at any dock and the passengers and their baggage may be put aboard the ships by tenders. If the British Government will cooperate, kindly indicate the port at which these ships may enter.
It is very important to have a reply at the earliest possible moment.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, to the Ambassador in France.↩