File No. 195.2/252
The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Jusserand)
Washington, October 2, 1914.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 3d ultimo1 in which by order of your Government you repeat its views on the question of the proposed purchase by the United States Government of German vessels which, by reason of [Page 496] the pending conflict in Europe, are now immobilized in ports of the United States. You express the opinion of your Government that such a transaction is without precedent and could not in any respect be regarded as legitimate on the part of a great neutral country. You state at length the reasons upon which this opinion of your Government is based.
In response to your note I have the honor to state that this Government is giving the matter presented by your excellency its attentive consideration, and further that, while it refrains from commenting at the present moment upon the opinions of your Government, as expressed in your communication, this Government reserves for the present, the statement of its views as to the contentions of the Government of the French Republic.
Accept [etc.]
[See also the British Embassy’s memorandum of October 1, 1914,1 concerning the transfer of the German ship Alexandria (renamed Sacramento), for the statement: “the British Embassy wishes to state that there is no desire or intention to object to the transfer to the American flag.”]