File No. 451.11B74/32
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Sharp )
935. Your 830, June 16.1 In order to avoid any misunderstanding as to attitude of Government of the United States toward Dacia case, inform French Government that in view of the differences which are understood to exist between the two Governments as to the principles of law applicable to this case, the Government of the United States desires to make clear to the French Government that it has postponed any discussion of these differences until after the decision of the prize court on account of the statement received from the French Government that it could not discuss the principles of law to be expounded in the present case in advance of the judgment of the prize court without infringing upon the jurisdiction of that court, but this discussion is postponed on the distinct understanding that if the decision of the prize court should make a discussion necessary, the postponement of it is not to be taken as an admission on the part of the Government of the United States that a judgment of the prize court can impair or prejudice the rights of an American citizen under the principles of law which the Government of the United States maintains are established by international usage governing the purchase of belligerent vessels by neutrals after the outbreak of hostilities, and the transfer of such vessels to a neutral flag.
- Not printed.↩