File No. 841.801/83

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

5701. Following revised notice, dated February 13, received from Foreign Office respecting dangerous area in North Sea which is intended to replace notice quoted my telegram 5544, January 25, 1917:

North Sea. Caution with regard to dangerous area.

Caution. In view of the unrestricted warfare carried on by Germany at sea by means of mines and submarines not only against the Allied powers but also against neutral shipping and the fact that [Page 519] merchant ships are constantly sunk without regard to the ultimate safety of their crews, His Majesty’s Government give notice that on and after the 7th February, 1917, the under-mentioned area in the North Sea will be rendered dangerous to all shipping by operations against the enemy and it should therefore be avoided.

Dangerous Area. The area comprising all the waters except Netherland and Danish territorial waters lying to the southward and eastward of a line commencing four miles from the coast of Jutland in latitude 56° N., longitude 8° E. and passing through the following positions: latitude 56° N., longitude 6° E. and latitude 54° 45′ N., longitude 4° 30′ E., thence to a position in latitude 53° 27′ N. longitude 5° E., seven miles from the coast of the Netherlands.

To meet the needs of the coastal traffic which can not strictly confine itself to territorial waters owing navigational difficulties, it will be safe to navigate between the coast of Jutland and a line passing through the following positions: latitude 56° N., longitude 8° E.; latitude 55° 40′ N., longitude 8° E.; latitude 55° 36′ N., longitude 7° 15′ E.; latitude 55° 32′ N., longitude 7° 15′ E.; latitude 55° 22′ N., longitude 7° 45′ E.; latitude 55° 19′ N., longitude 8° 4′ E.; latitude 55° 22′ N., longitude 8° 19′ E., which is three miles from the coast of Fanö Island.

Also a safe passage will be left along the Netherland coast southward of a line joining the following positions: latitude 53° 27′ N., longitude 5° E.; latitude 53° 31½′ N., longitude 5° 30′ E.; latitude 53° 34′ N., longitude 6° E.; latitude 53° 39′ N., longitude 6° 23′ E.

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