The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador (Bernstorff)
Washington,
August 28, 1915.
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have received your note of the 8th instant, in explanation of the action of the officers of a German torpedo boat in holding up the American steamship Muskogee and [Page 752] the removal from the vessel of two of its seamen, and beg to thank you for your attention to the matter.
You will appreciate that this Government cannot acquiesce in a practice which might be regarded as lending assistance to deserting seamen from American vessels on the high seas.
I am [etc.]
Robert Lansing