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

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Peters’ letters of the 7th and 8th instants,2 transmitting the reports of the collector of customs at New York relative to the armament on the S. S. Giuseppe Verdi of the Transatlantica-Italiana Line, and in reply to state that the Department is in receipt to-day of the formal assurances of the Italian Ambassador that the guns on this vessel will be used only for defensive purposes and will not be used to attacks submarine whilst being warned. In these circumstances I have the honor to suggest that no objection be raised to the clearance of the vessel on account of the armament that she carries.

I have [etc.]

Robert Lansing
  1. Letter of January 8 not printed.