File No. 763.72111/5062
The Minister in Peru ( McMillin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5.10 p.m.]
Department’s May 24, 6 p.m. Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs replies as follows:3 [Page 1287]
In reply I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that my Government will consider the above-mentioned ships as merchant vessels, even though they are the property of the Government of the United States, in consideration of their being operated by an industrial company solely for peaceful commercial purposes, not extending any privilege to the American Government, and not flying the naval flag or being under the command of officers of the Fleet or the Army. Armament with guns of small caliber will not deprive these ships of their mercantile nature, provided the number and location of the guns gives this armament the character of being exclusively for defense against submarine attacks.
- The quotation has been revised after comparison with the Spanish text later received as an enclosure to a despatch. (File No. 763.72111/5134.)↩