Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

740.00111A Armed Merchantmen/1: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)

Washington, September 27, 1939—5 p.m.

1143. Your telegram 2017, September 17. Department’s 1005, September 20.⁵⁴ You may advise appropriate French authorities, for their confidential information and guidance, that, as a temporary measure and pending definite fixation of policy concurrently with or following Congressional action on pending neutrality bill,⁵⁵ this Government will not treat as war vessels armed belligerent merchant vessels whose arms are intended and used solely for defense but that it should be understood that this condition is subject to change without obligation to give prior notice. This Government reserves the right to determine for itself through collectors of customs or otherwise whether individual armed vessels are to be considered as merchant vessels or vessels of war.

The foregoing has also been transmitted to London for guidance of British authorities.⁵⁶

Hull

54. Latter not printed.
55. H. J. Res. 306, approved November 4, 1939, 54 Stat. 4.
56. Telegram No. 1147, October 3, 6 p.m., not printed.