File No. 763.72/2692
The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 13.]
Mr. Secretary of State: A German submarine, in January last, signaled with flags from a distance the Dutch steamer Bandoeng to stop. Instead of immediately complying with that summons permissible under international law, the Dutch steamer turned at higher speed on the submarine whose commander, on the assumption warranted by the circumstances, thought he had to do with an English ship in disguise bent on attacking him, then opened fire on her. The S. S. Bandoeng then stopped and sent over a boat for the examination of the ship’s papers. On being asked about his captain’s proceeding, the Dutch officer in command of the boat explained that he wanted to come nearer the submarine so as to shorten the visitation formalities.
The Imperial Government finds in the incident occasion to suggest to the neutral governments that the masters of their merchant ships [Page 268] be given to understand that in the event of their being stopped by German public vessels, the provisions of international law must be observed to the letter, and that their special attention be called to the dangers incurred by turning their ships on a submarine. Thus alone can incidents of the foregoing description be avoided, the responsibility for which would exclusively lie upon the neutral shipmasters.
Accept [etc.]