File No. 763.72112/1059
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s cabled instruction of April 2, 1915,1 in regard to the preparation of claims, I have the honor to state that in each case where goods are released to the claimants without going through the prize court, an indemnity in the following terms must first be signed:
In Prize
S. S. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Whereas the undermentioned goods have been seized as prize;
And whereas _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ claims to be entitled to the goods hereafter described and has requested the procurator general to consent to an order for the release to him of the said goods;
And whereas the procurator general is willing upon receiving the following indemnity (and subject to such other conditions (if any), as may have been arranged between the parties) to consent, to such an order:
Now in consideration of the procurator general agreeing to give such consent the said _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ undertakes to indemnify the procurator general whether on his own behalf or on behalf of the Crown or on behalf of the Admiralty marshal or of any officer or official of the Crown or of the prize court or of any person acting under the authority or instructions of the same or of any one or more of them against all petitions (including petitions of right) claims Proceedings actions or demands for or in respect or on account of the goods or any part thereof or any proceeds thereof or arising directly or indirectly out of or connected with the seizure, detention or release of the goods or any part thereof and against all costs damages and expenses in respect of the premises.
Description of goods above referred to:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Witness to the signature of the said: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Claimants have no choice but to sign the foregoing and I should be glad to be informed whether or not, in the view of the Department, the execution of these documents terminates or in any way modifies the right of such claimants to demand eventually reimbursement of expenses and other losses sustained in consequence of the action of the British Government.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩