File No. 763.72111/4777 The Swiss Minister (Ritter) to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, February 21, 1917. SIR: This Legation had already brought to the attention of your Department the fact that German merchant ships which are interned in Honolulu had been seized by the local authorities, and their officers and crews removed. Upon intervention of your Department the United States troops have been removed from these ships and their crews released. I am now informed by Mr. John W. Cathcart, lawyer in Honolulu, that during the stay of United States troops on these ships, considerable looting has been done. The respective cable, dated February 18, reads as follows: Captains all vessels now preparing statements showing detailed items of looting which should be ready next week. Statements will show many articles missing and cover many pages, for [?] too much to cable. Generally speaking great looting took place of bed and table linen, tableware, provisions, engine room stores, wines, and other articles belonging to vessels, also clothing and personal effects, American and foreign moneys, and other valuables belonging to crews. Judging from reports already received, impossible now to approximate losses but believe will run into thousands of dollars; will mail detailed statements at earliest possible moment. I am furthermore informed by the Hamburg American Line in New York that German ships in Manila and Colon have also been seized, their crews arrested, and U. S. soldiers put on board. It seems that looting has been done also on these ships since the crews were removed. The Hamburg American Line wired me under date of February 16 as follows: Message from our agents in Manila reads: Owing to pilferage and damages committed on some steamers by Government guards, we consider it necessary to take inventory all ships before customs authorities, fixing liability prior to making application for return of crews aboard message ends. We (Hamburg American Line) have instructed our agents at Honolulu and Manila as follows: Take inventory of ships effects on basis claims for articles looted by troops. Status of all our ships and crews at all ports except Manila and Colon now satisfactorily arranged as crews returned to ships without restrictions and guards removed from ships. At Manila and Colon, ships in charge of troops or guards and officers and crews removed. Manila advises further: Crews removed to Baguio contrary to press cables local Government has no instructions return ships. According to message Feb. 4 from our agents at Colon officers and crews removed from ships captains and wives interned at Hotel Washington officers and crews in Fort Randolph. Today Colon advises us Governor Panama Canal replies to your recent inquiry at no time has been intention definitely seize ships on contrary vessels were taken and being held simply as safety measure protect channels structure of Canal until he receives advice to contrary from Washington deems preferable allow matters remain as are at present. I have the honor to submit these facts to your excellency and would be obliged, if instructions could be given that investigations are made immediately in Honolulu, Manila and Colon. Accept [etc.] File No. 763.72111/4777 P. RITTER The Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Ritter) No. 403 WASHINGTON, March 10, 1917. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two notes of February 21 and 24, 1917,1 in regard to the alleged seizure of German merchant ships at Colon, Honolulu, and Manila, and to looting said to have taken place during the occupation of the vessels by the American authorities. Concerning the alleged seizure of German merchant ships, it may be pointed out that the measures taken by the authorities of this Government in placing guards on the vessels and detaining their crews were only for the preservation of American life and property, or in order to prevent possible obstruction of navigation. This action was taken in accordance with the laws of the United States, and never has there been on the part of this Government a seizure of German vessels in the sense of a transfer of ownership. I beg to advise you further that this Government has requested an investigation for the purpose of ascertaining the present status of the vessels. It now appears (1) that the guards placed on board the vessels at Honolulu have been removed; (2) that the crews of the vessels at Colon who objected to detention have been released and that two of the men who took advantage of this privilege subsequently returned voluntarily to the detention quarters. Also, in order properly to safeguard the Canal it is considered necessary to retain charge of the vessels under the authority of the Governor. Furthermore, (3) the vessels at Manila, whose machinery, except in one instance, was seriously damaged by their crews and preparations made for their sinking, have been taken in charge by the Governor General of the Philippines in accordance with the law to prevent or suppress lawless violence. I may state, in this connection, that when their crews were removed they were transported to Baguio upon the written request of the then German Consul, where they are not guarded and are apparently well pleased with their condition. With regard to the looting of the vessels at Honolulu and Manila, I beg to advise you that the matter is being investigated by the 'Note of Feb. 24 not printed. Governors of the Hawaiian and Philippine Islands. For your preliminary information, however, a telegram dated February 25 from the Governor of the Philippine Islands is quoted below: Referring to telegram from General Hunter Liggett to the Adjutant General of the Army, dated February 23, 1917, several complaints were received from captains of the German vessels after reinoval of crews regarding loss of personal articles, principally jewelry and liquors. All complaints are being carefully investigated and complainants advised that articles will be restored if recovered and suitable recompense will be made for articles found to have been lost if any government agents or guards responsible. Upon receipt of further reports, I shall be pleased to advise you fully.1 Accept [etc.] File No. 763.72111/4618 ROBERT LANSING The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Interior (Lane) WASHINGTON, March 14, 1917. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Spanish Consul at Honolulu, in charge of German interests at that place, has requested that the collector of customs, the Board of Health, etc., be instructed not to allow any American of whatever official capacity to board a German steamer without previously giving notice to his Consulate, stating the date and hour of the expected visit. I also have the honor to inform you that this Department perceives no objections to having instructions issued as requested by the Spanish Consul. I have [etc.] For the Secretary of State: File No. 763.72111/5062a The Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips) to the Secretary of the Swiss Legation (Hübscher) WASHINGTON, March 29, 1917. MY DEAR MR. HÜBSCHER: Referring to our recent conversations on the subject of the German refugee merchant vessels in Honolulu, I beg to advise you that, according to the latest information, the situation is as follows: The vessels referred to are lying at their wharves in Honolulu Harbor, their crews, which had previously been removed, have been returned on board and all United States guards removed therefrom. 1Reports subsequently received did not bear out the charge that Government guards or agents were responsible for the alleged looting and were not forwarded to the Swiss Legation (File Nos. 763.72111/4644, 4697, 4779, 48081⁄2). It would appear that the vessels are now under the control of their German crews, except that supervision over them is exercised by the United States customs officials. I will be glad to inform you of any further developments in this matter, which is the subject of frequent communication between the Departments of State, Interior, and Navy. I am [etc.] WILLIAM PHILLIPS PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE SUPPLYING TO BELLIGERENT WARSHIPS OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE SAILING OF MERCHANT SHIPS 1 File No. 763.72111/5063a The Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips) to the Assistant WASHINGTON, February 10, 1917. DEAR MR. PETERS: The Secretaries of the British and French Embassies called upon me yesterday requesting that steps be taken so that the publication of manifests of ships sailing from the United States for Allied countries be discontinued. I merely desire to bring these facts to your attention and to inquire whether, in your opinion, it would be possible to take any steps looking to the discontinuance of the publication of the manifests. Sincerely yours, File No. 763.72111/4587 WILLIAM PHILLIPS The Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Peters) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips) WASHINGTON, February 12, 1917. [Received February 13.] MY DEAR MR. PHILLIPS: Your favor of the 10th instant is at hand, stating that the Secretaries of the British and French Embassies called upon you and requested that steps be taken so that the publication of manifests of ships sailing from the United States for Allied countries be discontinued, and asking if it is possible to take any steps looking to a discontinuance of this practice. The collection of statistics requires the publication of totals of goods exported. There seems to be no reason, however, why publication of the manifests of individual vessels should be made, and under the circumstances such publication seems undesirable. I have given instructions that the practice of publication of manifests of particular vessels, where it exists, be discontinued, and that publication of export figures be given only by total articles and by countries. A. J. PETERS 1 Very truly yours, See Foreign Relations, 1916, Supplement, pp. 780–781. File No. 763.72111/4526 The Secretary of Agriculture (Houston) to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, February 14, 1917. [Received February 16.] SIR: In confirmation of telephone and personal conferences between the Third Assistant Secretary of State and the Chief of the Weather Bureau of this Department, relative to withholding the publication of information concerning the arrival and departure of vessels at Cape Henry, Va., and Sand Key, Fla., I transmit herewith copies of the instructions issued by the Weather Bureau affecting the vesselreporting work at Cape Henry, Va., and Key West, Fla., also copies of letters addressed to the Chamber of Commerce at Baltimore and the Maritime Exchange at New Orleans, soliciting their cooperation in connection with the temporary suspension of the information service heretofore rendered.1 I also wish to say, in confirmation of oral representations, that the movements of shipping in and out of New York harbor by way of the Narrows are, we believe, fully reported by the Western Union and the Postal Telegraph Companies, who have observing stations located on Government property at Sandy Hook. We also understand that the Maritime Exchange at Philadelphia maintains a vessel-reporting station at Delaware Breakwater which reports fully the movements of shipping in that vicinity, and that the Baltimore Maritime Exchange, under an arrangement with the lighthouse keeper at Cove Point, Md., receives reports of boats in and out of Baltimore which supplement those heretofore furnished by the Weather Bureau station at Cape Henry. This Department is not informed at the present time just what other arrangements for reporting the movements of shipping may be in operation at other Atlantic and Gulf ports, but we are ready to aid the Department of State in this connection in any way that may be practicable. Respectfully, D. F. HOUSTON File No. 763.72111/4704 The British Chargé (Barclay) to the Secretary of State MEMORANDUM His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him that he has been instructed by his Government to call the attention of the United States Government to the undesirability, in present circumstances, of publishing information regarding the sailings of 1 Enclosures not printed. |