File No. 763.72111/1409a
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury (McAdoo)
Washington, January 11, 1915.
[Telegram]
Referring to your Department’s letter of November 13,1 and this Department’s communications of November 14,2 24, 28,3 December 2,4 9, 11, and 14, relative to reports on incoming and outgoing vessels.5 From results of recent reports of collectors Department deems it unnecessary for collectors to report further under these instructions, except in suspicious cases. Collectors should not, however, relax their vigilance to prevent violations of neutrality or to obtain and report evidence regarding transshipment of cargoes at sea to belligerent warships. The investigations of the collectors in their efforts to obtain information required by their instructions are having, it is believed, a good effect upon shipowners and attempts at illicit trade in general.