862.85/933: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
3834. For Polk. Your 5261 November 18, 8 p.m. and paragraph 6 [5] of our 3809 containing proposition of the Shipping Board. Please present the substance of the following message from Judge Payne as soon as possible either to your colleagues on the Supreme Council or your British colleague alone as you think best.
“Supplementing my message contained in Department’s 3809 November 19, 3 p.m., paragraph 6 [5], in view of the fact that under a misunderstanding Great Britain sent over a crew for the Imperator and we are now able to dispense with her, we have decided to deliver the Imperator at once. Upon acceptance of my proposal cabled in Department’s 3809, paragraph 6 [5], we shall deliver the seven other ex-German ships. John Barton Payne, Chairman.”
I am informed by the Shipping Board at 5 p.m., today, November 20 that they were telephoning at once to the British Ship Commissioner informing him that the Imperator would be transferred to him as soon as he could take possession.