340.1115A/1591: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—8:40 a.m.]
4650. I have been informed that it was stated by the speaker at the Foreign Office press conference today that the refusal to give safe conduct [Page 175] in the waters around the British Isles to an American vessel was in no sense intended as an anti-American gesture. It was pointed out by the speaker that there are two types of offensive sea weapons—those still in the control of men and those that have left the control of men. He stated that in fact a complete safe conduct can never be given for a ship in a war zone and that the belligerents only can instruct their fighting forces to take care not to injure the ship and advise the ship where it is least likely to encounter danger from the second class of weapons mentioned by him. In view of the refusal of the American Legion to heed the warnings and advice given as to the course it should follow the speaker said that his Government did not feel that it could take any part in the responsibility for the safety of another American ship in the war zone.