340.1115A/1374: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 17—9 a.m.]
3559. My 3555, August 16, 1 p.m.45 Following is a translation of a note verbale just received from the Foreign Office dated today.
“The Foreign Office has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of note number 1398 of August 16, 1940 concerning the voyage from Petsamo of the American military transport American Legion.
The Foreign Office concludes from this note that the Government of the United States of America insists upon having the American Legion return via the route it had already indicated although it had been promptly and urgently warned of the very great dangers inevitably connected with a voyage through the zone of military operations around England and despite the fact that the German Government has urgently advised that the ship return by another safe route.
The German Government points out emphatically that the ship is entering the zone of military operations around England warned and with full knowledge of the danger. It declines any responsibility whatsoever for harm which may occur to the vessel on account of so daring an undertaking. The responsibility therefore is borne exclusively by the Government of the United States of America.
[Page 155]The German Government feels all the more obliged to make this declaration because it did not receive final notification of the ship’s departure from Petsamo on August 16 until noon of this same day although the American Embassy in Berlin had been informed that August 15 was the latest date for such notification of the intended route.”
- Not printed.↩