862.85/2130
The German Chargé (Thomsen) to the Secretary of State
W XI Nr.5 C
Mr. Secretary of State: By direction of my Government, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency of the following:
The German Government has seen from the aide-mémoire of March 15, 1941 (862.85/1845) and the note of May 13, 1941 (862.85/2029) that the United States Government obviously does not share the legal view of the German Government on the question of the seizure of foreign merchant ships. However, it has not been able to discern one valid reason for this in the statements of these documents.
It therefore considers a further discussion pointless but explicitly reserves all rights which would result from a violation of recognized international law by the Government of the United States.
Accept [etc.]