Office of the Historian

File No. 865.857/26

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Grew)1

[Telegram]
Washington, December 9, 1916, 8 p. m.

3655. Department advised that Italian S. S. Palermo, en route from New York to Genoa with cargo of horses, was torpedoed without warning by submarine of unknown nationality 25 miles off Cape San Sebastian, Spain, December 2, 11.40 a. m.; that no attempt was made to escape or resist, and that there were on board 48 Americans, of whom one was drowned.

Please bring this case to attention of Foreign Minister, with urgent request for prompt investigation and report on sinking of this vessel.

Lansing
  1. The same to the Ambassador in Austria-Hungary, No. 1446.↩