File No. 763.72111P88/15

The Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo) to the Secretary of State

Sir: I have the honor to quote the following cablegram from the collector of customs at San Juan, relative to the proposed removal of the crews from the German vessels at that port:

Military commander has made arrangements to take crew off interned steamer KD-3 and Federal Court believes necessity for same action regarding Odenwald should there be a break in relations with Germany. Have reliable information that crew may attempt to damage vessels should situation become serious. Wire whether same action should also be taken regarding German steamer President which is in this port but not interned.

[Page 749]

I shall be pleased to receive an expression of your views as to the instructions which should be sent to the collector in this matter.

By direction of the Secretary.

Respectfully,

Wm. P. Malburn

Assistant Secretary