Office of the Historian

File No. 763.72111/4540

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

Washington, February 19, 1917.

Sir: Referring to your Department’s request by telephone for information relative to reports that the British S. S. Oxonian had sunk a submarine about December 28, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a letter dated the 17th instant, from the collector of customs at Norfolk, and a copy of the statement of the master.

I will thank you to advise me what instructions you desire given to the collector relative to the clearance of this vessel.

By direction of the Secretary.

Respectfully,

A. J. Peters
Assistant Secretary
[Enclosure]

The Collector of Customs at Norfolk ( Hamilton) to the Secretary of the Treasury ( McAdoo)

Norfolk, February 17, 1917.

Sir: Acknowledging receipt of departmental telegram of yesterday evening, directing this office to obtain and forward to the Department facts and affidavits regarding newspaper reports that British S. S. Oxonian, now in the waters of this district, sank a submarine about December 28, 1916, I have the honor to report that failing to locate last evening the master of the Oxonian, which is at Newport News, it was ascertained to-day that the master was in Norfolk, and he was requested to visit this office, which he did, accompanied by Mr. W. M. Royds, British Vice Consul.

Upon the usual questions being put to the master of the Oxonian with reference to the gun on board his ship, the master answered these questions as shown by the enclosed.1

[Page 549]

When specifically asked as to what use the gun on the Oxonian Was placed on her voyage from Alexandria, Egypt, to Newport News, the master answered that his instructions were to make no statement.

When asked if he fired upon a submarine or other vessel of war before the latter gave warning, he repeated that his instructions were to make no statement, and further declined to make statement of any kind regarding newspaper reports that the Oxonian engaged and sank a submarine about December 28, 1916.

The above facts were reported by telephone to the Department to-day, and the following instructions were received: “Withhold clearance S. S. Oxonian until further orders from the Department. Peters.”

This is to acknowledge and confirm receipt of above instructions, which will be carried out. Respectfully,

Norman R. Hamilton
  1. Not printed.↩