Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

656D.006/6–347

The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Batavia

confidential

Washington, June 23, 1947.

The Secretary of State has received the Consul’s despatch No. 221 dated April 10, 1947,¹⁶ with enclosures, regarding the case of the American steamship Martin Behrman. The information contained in this report has been read with much interest, and the report has been of considerable assistance in dealing with the problems involved.

The Secretary of State transmits herewith a copy of a letter dated June 3, 1947, with enclosures, received from W. Everett Smith, Vice President of Isbrandtsen Company, Inc.,¹⁶ relating to a summons that was addressed to Captain R. Gray, c/o Isbrandtsen Line, 26 Broadway, New York, under date of May 23, 1947, by the Acting Consul General of the Netherlands in New York. The Secretary of State has requested Mr. Smith to advise the Department concerning the action that Captain Gray takes with respect to this matter.

The Secretary of State desires to receive from the Consular Officer a report regarding the present status of the legal proceedings which constitute the subject matter of this summons and copies of all papers relating thereto which have not previously been forwarded to the Department. Information is desired as to whether the cargo of the Martin Behrman is still in a warehouse, as a report has been received indicating that the warehouses in which it was stored were burned. A full report with regard to these matters is desired at an early date.¹⁷

16. Not printed.
16. Not printed.
17. Telegrams 338, August 23, and 448, November 26, from Batavia, indicated that the case of the Martin Behrman was first postponed to November 28 and again to February 27, 1948. The Department, in telegram 72, February 19, 1948, 3 p.m., to Batavia, requested a further postponement pending the possible opening of negotiations looking to a settlement of the claim. (656D.006/8–2347, 11–2647) In despatches 309, September 24, and 372, November 24, from Batavia, reports were made regarding the cargo of the ship (656D.006/9–2447, 11–2447).