File No. 855.48/588
The Ambassador in Spain (Willard) to the Secretary of State
[Telegram]
Madrid,
May 4, 1917, 10 a.m.
[Received 10.15 p.m.]
[Received 10.15 p.m.]
520. Department’s 328, March 6 [16?], 4 p.m.1 German Minister for Foreign Affairs states that if Storstad was sunk in war zone on March 8 it was fault of captain who was at Saint Vincent from February 6 until end of month and, therefore, must have known of declaration of war zone and nevertheless ventured to enter it. Also states that so far as known ship was not provided with German safe-conduct in which case vessel showed without right the characteristics of the insignia of Commission for Relief of Belgians.
Willard