File No. 863.852/20
The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 5, 8.45 p.m.]
865. Referring to my telegram 848 [748], May 1,1 and Department’s telegrams 515, April 14, and 1644, April 7, to Embassy, [Page 449] Vienna, relative to sale of ships of Austro-Americana Steamship Co., have to report that Mr. York-Steiner acting for Austro-Americana requested good offices of Legation to ascertain whether sale of ships has been completed. York-Steiner states that Austro-Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs sent telegram April 17 through Stockholm for Austro-Hungarian authorities in United States or those acting on behalf of such authorities to close Austrian registry of seven ships belonging to Austro-Americana and sold American buyers for United States registry as advised Department’s 1644, April 7, to Embassy, Vienna. York-Steiner desires to know whether sale and change of registry mentioned in Department’s 1644 have been satisfactorily completed.
He states that if sale of other ships already authorized can be effected he will endeavor to cause action of Austrian authorities to change register. York-Steiner stated that he feared telegram of Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office mentioned above relative to change of registry had not reached proper authorties as he was aware that Germany opposed sale of Austrian ships and desired to hinder steps taken to effect it.
- Not printed.↩