File No. 763.72111/241
The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Jusserand)
Washington, October 5, 1914.
No. 1389]
Excellency: In further reply to your note of the 15th ultimo,1 relative to the supplies of coal reported to have been obtained by German steamers at the port of Manila, I have the honor to advise you that this matter was brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities, who have investigated and reported on this case.
It appears from the report that the Elmshorn and Bochum, have loaded, respectively, 4,000 and 5,000 tons of coal; that the balance of the cargo is general; and that they have no passengers or armament, and are believed to be without ammunition. It appears further that these vessels have taken coal and supplies at Manila for the first time during the war, and their usual trade routes are Hamburg, Australia, via Java. The destinations of the vessels are as yet unknown, as no applications for clearance have been made. The vessels appear to have called at Manila to avoid possible capture at sea.
Instructions have been issued to detain these vessels when clearance is applied for, in order that the Government may have opportunity to determine whether there is sufficient evidence from the circumstances to detain the vessels further, in order to maintain the neutrality of the United States.
As to the use of the Philippine Islands as a “center of indirect replenishment of German war vessels,” I have the honor to say that the officers of the Government, acting under special instructions, are believed to be specially vigilant in investigating and preventing any and all attempts to violate the neutrality of the United States.
Accept [etc.]