862.85/1189
The British Ambassador (Geddes) to the Secretary of State
Sir: With reference to Mr. Polk’s note of December 26th, 1919,58 and to previous correspondence between the State Department and this Embassy on the subject of the delay in delivering the former German vessels to the representatives appointed by His Majesty’s Government to receive them, I have the honour, on instructions from my Government, to prefer a claim against the United States Government in respect of (a) cost of crews’ wages and subsistence expenses in America, (b) cost of, and time required for reconditioning these vessels.
I am instructed to say that, provided the United States Government are prepared to meet the claim now to be presented under these heads, His Majesty’s Government on their part are ready to renounce their claim for loss of earnings and other losses.
The amount claimed under heading (a) is estimated at some $720,000. This provisional claim will, however, be replaced by a fully certified estimate so soon as all accounts are received.
In the meantime I should be glad to be able to inform my Government that the United States Government recognize in principle their liability under the above heads.
I have [etc.]