The Acting Secretary of the Treasury (Newton) to the Secretary of State

Sir: The collector of customs at New York reports by telephone the following facts in relation to the German S. S. Barbarossa :

The Barbarossa is taking on board 5,000 tons of coal, filling not only coal bunkers but also all of the cargo hatches, except one. The quantity of coal necessary for the trip to Bremen is 1,500 tons. On the pier alongside of the steamship lie three large wooden beams, about 35 feet in length, which it is believed are intended for use in transferring coal at sea. The customs inspectors state that three similar beams were laden on the S. S. Kronprinz Wilhelm , of this line, immediately prior to her departure from this port on August 3. There are also on the pier 15 coal buckets, about 10 of which are new, and a quantity of wire cable, all of which would seem to be intended to facilitate the [Page 616] transfer of coal at sea. In addition to the above, there are about 1,117 barrels of fuel oil now lying alongside the steamer on lighters, which it is believed are intended to be laden and the hatch still remaining vacant. These are all the facts available. So far as known she has no arms and no ammunition on board, has not been repainted and has not changed her rig or equipment.

Please advise this Department whether, if it is satisfied that it is the purpose of the Barbarossa to recoal ships of war of one of the belligerent powers at sea, such fact would constitute sufficient grounds for refusing clearance.

Respectfully,

Byron R. Newton

Acting Secretary