862.857 Hannover/3: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to All Diplomatic Missions in the American Republics Except the Dominican Republic and Panama
For your information the Foreign Minister of Panama on March 27 forwarded by air mail to the other American republics the joint proposal of the Governments of the Dominican Republic, Panama and the United States for the handling of the Hannover incident involving the scuttling by its own crew of a German merchant vessel near the Dominican coast on March 9. The proposal includes drafts of the following communications: (1) a note from the President of Panama on behalf of the other American republics to the President of the Dominican Republic acknowledging the report of the incident made by the latter Government and expressing agreement with the position of that Government to the effect that the incident was a violation of the Declaration of Panama; (2) a note addressed by the President of Panama to the King of Great Britain and to the Chancellor of the German Reich drawing attention to the incident and reserving the rights of the American republics in the premises and (3) a communication [Page 719] from the Foreign Minister of Panama to the Inter-American Neutrality Committee at Rio informing that committee of the action taken by the American republics.
Dr. Garay has requested that comments concerning this proposal be made by telegraph. You are requested to take such steps as may, in your discretion, be desirable in order to expedite favorable action on the part of the Government to which you are accredited. You should report any information which may reach you concerning the attitude of that Government toward the proposal.