File No. 841.857/308
The Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 30, 7.30 p.m.]
4948. Following note received from the Foreign Office:
Berlin, January 26, 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 December 11, 1916 (Foreign Office No. 14829), relative to the sinking of the British steamer Trevarrick by a German submarine as follows:
According to the facts as ascertained by the German naval authorities the British steamer Trevarrack, not Trevarrick, was stopped by a German submarine on the morning of November 16, 1916; the crew left the steamer without further delay when the signal to stop was given and sailed away from the steamer in their boats. The vessel was then sunk as an enemy vessel after it had been searched.
The undersigned requests that the above may be brought to the cognizance of the American Government and avails himself [etc.]
Stumm