File No. 862.85/160
The Minister of Switzerland representing German interests in the United
States presents his compliments to the Secretary of State, and has the
honor to enclose copy and translation of a note
verbale addressed by the Imperial German Foreign Office to the
Swiss Legation in Berlin, requesting to be informed of the intentions of
the Government of the United States with regard to the question of
ownership of German merchant vessels recently taken over by the
Government of the United States and with regard to the question of
compensation.1
[Enclosure—Translation]
The German Foreign
Office to the Swiss Legation at
Berlin
III. a. 13486. 106390
Note Verbale
According to the note verbale of the Swiss
Legation of May 30, 1917, No. A. VII. 3./3974, the Government of the
United States informed the Swiss Legation in Washington on March 10,
1917, that the seizure of certain German merchant vessels lying in
several American harbors was done merely for the protection of
American life and property and that this seizure in no sense
represented a transfer of ownership.
On the other hand, it appears from the telegram of the Swiss Legation
in Washington to the Political Department in Berne, dated April 6,
1917, and transmitted to the Foreign Office by note verbale of April 9, 1917, No. A. VII 3./1600, that
all of the German vessels lying in American harbors had been seized.
Furthermore, according to The Official
Bulletin, Washington, June 4, 1917, transmitted to the
Foreign Office by note verbale of July 6,
1917, No. A. VII 3./5770, the American Navy Department has given new
names to fourteen of the German vessels seized.
It appears from this, that the American Government has proceeded
actually to seize the German ships lying in American harbors for the
purpose of appropriating them. The Imperial Government desires to
know what, according to the views of the American Government, is the
significance of this seizure and particularly whether the Government
has in fact requisitioned the German vessels with the intention of
acquiring title or merely for a temporary use, and in either case
how the Government purposes to regulate the question of
compensation.
The Foreign Office would be indebted to the Swiss Legation if it
could obtain information with reference to this matter, from the
Government of the United States through the medium of the Swiss
Legation in Washington.