File No. 441.11 Am 37/198

The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice ) to the Secretary of State

No. 106

Sir: You will no doubt remember that early in December last, in response to a request of the United States Government, His Majesty’s Government undertook not to detain any of the eight catalogued ships belonging to the American Transatlantic Company unless they were carrying contraband, pending the decision of the prize court in the test cases of the Hocking and the Genesee.

[Page 383]

I have now the honour to inform you that Sir Edward Grey has received the following information obtained from the crew of the S. S. Winneconne belonging to the same line, regarding the last voyage of that vessel from New York to Europe.

Leaving New York on the 15th December with a general cargo, the ship doused lights to escape interception by British cruisers off the Hudson River. She then shaped course by the south of Greenland and north of Iceland for the Norwegian coast, having the assistance of a pilot from the sailing port. She arrived on 10th January at Gothenburg, where a quantity of her cargo was discharged into lighters brought over from Germany to receive it, amongst the cargo so discharged being a number of very heavy cases. The vessel stayed at Gothenburg for about a fortnight, and then proceeded to Copenhagen.

I have received instructions from Sir Edward Grey to inform you, while bringing the case against the Winneconne to your knowledge, that the immunity from capture at present enjoyed by the American Transatlantic Company’s vessels can only be continued provided that an assurance is given by the company that the vessels will not trade with Scandinavia or Holland.

I am [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice