File No. 763.72111/3278

The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice ) to the Secretary of State

Sir: I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 1016 of the 16th instant, in which, with special reference to the case of the steamship Vinland, you refer to the question of belligerent cruisers patrolling the American coast, and request that the matter may be laid before His Majesty’s Government with the earnest request that instructions be issued to His Majesty’s ships to desist from a practice which the United States Government is convinced has been maintained for long periods at a time and which is peculiarly disagreeable—both to that Government and to American traders concerned.

Your note under reply has been communicated to His Majesty’s Government, and I shall not fail to inform you of any further reply which I may be instructed to make on this subject.

I have [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice