File No. 857.857/64
The Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 12, 10.50 p.m.]
4865. The following note relative to the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Trippel has just been received:
Berlin, January 11, 1917.
The undersigned has the honor to inform his excellency Mr. James W. Gerard, Ambassador of the United States of America, in reply to the note of Mr. J. C. Grew, dated the 12th ultimo (Foreign Office No. 14849), relative to the sinking of the Norwegian steamer Trippel by a German submarine, as follows:
According to the investigation of the German naval authorities the Norwegian steamer Trippel was stopped by a German submarine on November 10, 1916, and captured after it was ascertained that her cargo consisted of steel and iron for the Italian war command with Genoa as the port of destination. Since it was impossible under the given circumstances to bring the steamer into a German port she was sunk. Crew had first been given sufficient time to leave the steamer; the weather was very fine the Spanish coast scarcely 10 miles distant so that there was full security for the rescuing of the craft.
The undersigned requests that the above may be communicated to the American Government and avails himself [etc.] Minister for Foreign Affairs.