File No. 763.72/10519a
The Secretary of State to the Cuban Minister ( De Céspedes)
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to the Cuban Minister and has the honor to hand him for his information the substance of a memorandum received from the Secretary of the Navy, concerning maritime activities:
A submarine of the converted Deutschland type carrying two 6-inch guns, torpedoes and probably mines, has been operating since May 25 between Nantucket Shoals and Cape Hatteras. There may be other submarines but this fact has not yet been ascertained.
All protection possible is being extended to shipping. Vessels from all points bound up and down the coast are routed and protected [Page 703] by the naval commandants of coast districts. All other shipping will receive routing instructions when possible at the port of departure.
It is proposed to place duly qualified routing officers of our Navy at Matanzas, Antilla, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. These will be in addition to the routing office at Havana. These officers will be equipped with all routing instructions and latest information for the guidance of all ships leaving Cuba.
There are indications that submarine activities may shift to waters in the vicinity of Cuba and the cooperation of the Cuban Government in all matters pertaining to submarine activity is earnestly requested.
The Secretary of the Navy considers that the close cooperation of the Cuban Government with the anti-submarine operations of the Government of the United States is of the first importance, for which reason the United States naval attaché at the American Legation in Havana will be telegraphically informed of the changes, which occur in the situation from time to time, this information being then communicated by the American Minister at Havana to the Government of the Republic of Cuba.