File No. 763.72/2408
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 16, 12.20 a. m.]
3785. Your 2830,1 February 7. I have endeavored with the assistance of the Consul General at London and the Consul at Liverpool to obtain information regarding both ships, so far without result. The Board of Trade cannot or will not give information. The owners of the Kashgar will say nothing and the owners of the City of Marseilles referred the Consul at Liverpool to the Admiralty under instructions from that Department. I have been reduced to asking the Admiralty for such information as they are willing to give and shall telegraph anything I may ultimately receive.
I venture to suggest that hereafter telegrams dealing with such matters as those discussed in your 2786,2 January 26, and 2830,1 February 7, be sent in cipher. All open telegrams sent and received by me are regularly communicated to all interested government departments as soon as received in a telegraph office, and in the case of the two open telegrams referred to, gave the Admiralty an opportunity to close all sources of information.