File No. 711.5921/4
The Secretary of State to Minister Egan
Washington, June 20, 1916.
Your 253. Department not entirely clear regarding nature note of confirmation desired by Danish Government to which you refer. You may, however, state that Department is gratified Danish Government accepts arrangement proposed by this Government respecting abrogation treaty stipulations in conflict with Seamen’s Act.
With reference to observations of Danish Government respecting construction by courts of United States of Section 4 of the Act, you may say that it is of course to be presumed that the courts will apply the proper law in controversies that may come before them involving the construction of this section of the act.
With respect Danish Government’s observations regarding the execution of Section 13 of the Act, you may point out that regulations issued by the Department of Commerce prescribe that certificates issued to able seamen by competent authorities of the countries to which the seamen belong shall be accepted by collectors of customs as evidence that the able seamen so certified comply with the requirements of Section 13 of the Seamen’s Act.