740.0011 European War 1939/32061
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Colombia (Lane)
Dear Mr. Lane: In the Department’s telegram 1463 of November 28, 3 p.m. you were advised that the result of any investigation concerning fragments of shrapnel would be communicated to you as soon as possible, and subsequently on the 30th in our cable 1472,24 the Department stated that the shell fragments were being sent to Washington for examination.
The Department has now received a communication from the Navy Department that because the fragments were too small and there were too few of them, exact identification was not possible.
The foregoing is sent to you for your own strictly confidential information and only to wind up the matter as it is indicated in the Department’s cable would be done. The Department feels that the question of the fragments is now inconsequential in as much as there has never been doubt of the nationality of the submarine and the Colombian Government had so stated at the time of declaring its belligerency.
While it seemed desirable for you to have this information, it is our belief here that the matter should be allowed to die, that no report to the Foreign Office will be necessary, and that no publicity, certainly, should be given as the whole question is a closed issue.
With kindest personal regards,
Sincerely
- Not printed.↩