File No. 701.6211/368
The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 24.]
Mr. Secretary of State: I am informed, and New York papers report to the same effect, that the papers seized with Mr. W. von Igel have, contrary to my wish expressed to your excellency, been copied, part of them even submitted to the Grand Jury. Your excellency assured me verbally yesterday that instructions had been issued that these papers be brought to Washington without delay and submitted to me for examination. These instructions have, evidently, not been carried out.
I therefore have the honor to protest again most emphatically to your excellency against any use being made of these papers which have come into possession of the United States authorities in a [Page 810] manner contrary to international law, and to ask you, in accordance with the arrangements we have come to yesterday, to cause the papers and all copies taken thereof to be submitted to me immediately for examination.
Accept [etc.]