Office of the Historian

300.115(39) City of Flint/92: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Kirk)

Washington, October 30, 1939—2 p.m.

792. Please inform the German authorities that although we do not propose at this stage to discuss the legal aspects of the seizure of the City of Flint we feel that we should at once draw to their attention the fact that upon them at the present time rests the responsibility for the safety of the American crew. We expect, therefore, that they will take every precaution to avoid exposing the members of the American crew to unnecessary danger.91

Hull
  1. This instruction was communicated by the Chargé to the German Foreign Office on October 31, 1939. In his telegram No. 1919 of November 2, 1939, the Chargé reported the German intention to “take all possible steps to avoid any unnecessary risk to the ship and its crew.” (300.115 (39) City of Flint/127)↩