Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1914, Supplement, The World War

File No. 763.72/490

The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State

American Embassy,
Paris, August 17, 1914, 8 p.m.
[Received August 18, 6:05 a.m.]

[Telegram]

In support of suggestion in my August 16, 6 p.m., that England be sounded first in re neutralization German vessels now lying in New York Harbor, am informed by Foreign Office that British Admiral is in command of Allied fleets in Atlantic. Have discreetly ascertained without submitting Department’s proposal that France would oppose it and have it on the authority of Foreign Office that at the Declaration of London Germany refused to accept principle involved in said proposal.

Herrick