The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo)

[Telegram]

Your telephonic message regarding British collier Lena, Department recommends that the collector of customs after conference with naval officers allow vessel to take on board sufficient provisions for her own use, to allow her, with provisions already on board, to reach nearest British port; that she be allowed to make such repairs to her boilers as are absolutely necessary to render her seaworthy and that she be notified to depart within twenty-four hours from the time of her arrival unless the necessary, repairs to her boilers require further delay, in which case the repairs must be carried out with the least possible delay and she must depart as soon as the cause of the delay is at an end. Department advises that the $4,000 worth of provisions and large supply of fresh water for salvaging vessels be not allowed.

W. J. Bryan