File No. 763.72111F23/27
The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 27.]
Sir: I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of March 131 in which you are good enough to explain the grounds on which the United States Government is under the necessity of adhering to its decision to intern until the end of the war the steamship Farn as a fleet auxiliary.
The tenor of your note was duly telegraphed to His Majesty’s Government, who desire me to inform you that it will have their most [Page 829] attentive consideration. They prefer, however, to await the receipt of the full text before replying in detail.
They do not at present understand to whom the United States Government feel themselves bound to hand over the Farn at the end of the war, and they would much appreciate it if they could be informed of the decision arrived at in this respect. While they would be very glad if this point could be cleared up, they do not abandon their contention that the Farn ought to be released to the British owners without delay.
I have [etc.]