File No. 841.731/52
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
London , October 23, 1914.
[Received 10 p.m.]
[Telegram]
892. Your telegram October 6. Sir Edward Grey informs me that inquiries develop the fact that two code telegrams dated August 4 and 22, signed respectively Tilson and Rowell, and addressed to a code address in the Philippines were detained at Hongkong. This detention appears to have been due to the fact that it was not contemplated that such messages would pass through hands of British censors since there is a direct American cable from Shanghai to the Philippines. Messages in question were probably sent via Hongkong during a temporary interruption of direct route of which Hongkong censor may have been unaware and there was nothing in the signature or address of the messages to indicate that they were of an official nature. British Government express regret at delay and will do everything possible to facilitate transmission of such messages, and in order to accomplish this suggest that signatures and addresses be given in full to indicate official character.