File No. 195.95/69a
The Secretary of State to the United States Shipping Board
Gentlemen: With reference to your letter of June 19, 1918, to Mr. Auchincloss2 and confirming Mr. Shaw’s conversation with you of July 6, the Department, according to its present information, believes that there will be no difficulty in sending merchant vessels defensively armed to the following countries:
[Page 1791]South America
- Argentina. Excepting in the case of Buenos Aires armed vessels cannot bring their powder into Argentina, but must first place it on board an Argentine station ship near Buenos Aires while the merchant ship is in the docks.
- Brazil.
- Chile. Vessels armed for defence may use Chilean ports on condition that notice of approximate date of arrival be given Chilean Government to permit verification of defensive nature of armament.
- Colombia.
- Paraguay.
- Peru.
- Uruguay.
- Venezuela.
Central America and West Indies
- Costa Rica.
- Dominican Republic.
- Haiti.
- Honduras.
- Guatemala.
- Nicaragua.
- Panama.
Regarding the sending of armed merchantmen to Mexico it is suggested that the Shipping Board follow a procedure similar to that which it is understood has been adopted in such cases by the British Government; that is, the guns, whose calibre shall be less than six inches and which shall not be mounted forward, shall be dismantled before entering Mexican territorial waters. If it is found impracticable to dismantle the guns, it will at least be essential to abide by the first two rules adopted by the British authorities and it will also be necessary that the gun crew should be small and should not appear in the uniform of the United States Navy.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩