File No. 341.622a/231
The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador (Bernstorff)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of September 20, 1916,1 in which, with reference to previous [Page 659] correspondence concerning the Germans taken from the American S. S. China by the British authorities, you request that instructions be sent to the American Consul General at Sydney to send these persons directly to San Francisco, and not to Shanghai first, if the negotiations for their release are brought to a successful issue. You add that the roundabout route to Shanghai would only entail unnecessary expense to those concerned.
In reply I have the honor to say that these negotiations have ended in an arrangement for the transportation of these persons back to Shanghai, and that this Government deems it inexpedient further to delay their departure, which is to take place on September 28, by negotiating for their transportation to San Francisco.
Accept [etc.]
- Not printed.↩