File No. 763.72111/5022

The Secretary of War ( Baker) to the Secretary of State

Sir: I acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 14, in reply to mine of the 5th, with reference to the proposed extension of the vessels of the Panama Railroad Co. to neutral ports, and complying with the suggestion contained in the last paragraph thereof I beg to request that your Department make inquiry of neutral governments, especially the Governments of Colombia, Peru, and Chile, as to what would be their attitude towards vessels in question in case of the proposed extension of the Panama Railroad Steamship Line.

I may note in this connection that it is probable that some of the vessels will be equipped with six-pounder guns as a protection [Page 1285] against possible submarine activities, and this fact should be taken into consideration in passing upon the questions presented to you.

Very respectfully,

Newton D. Baker