File No. 195.2/274
The Acting Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Jusserand)
Washington, November 7, 1914.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d ultimo, in which, with reference to the question of the transfer to American registry of the German vessels Standard and Chatham, you advise the Department of the intention of your Government to observe, in cases of this class, “the provisions of the Declaration of London of February 26, 1909, which, in Article 56, [Page 502] stipulates that under certain conditions a flag transfer effected by an enemy vessel during a war is to be held of no effect.”
In reply I have the honor to say that a translation of your note has been referred to the Secretary of Commerce for a statement of the facts relating to the ownership and transfer to American registry of the vessels in question, and that upon receipt of a reply from the Department of Commerce, your note will receive the further attention of the Department.
Accept [etc.]