File No. 841.857/190
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germcmy (Grew)
3589. Department advised that P. & O. liner Arabia carrying some 480 passengers, including about 170 women and children and also some Americans, was torpedoed without warning November 6 in Mediterranean on her homeward trip by German or Austrian submarine. It appears that the weather was fine and that the submarine, before dispatching the torpedo, could have seen women and children on the deck. This Government is unable to square this disaster with the German assurance of May 4, 1916, which, it is understood, binds both Central powers. Please bring this case to attention of Government to which you are accredited and request an immediate investigation and prompt report in this case.
Repeat Vienna, No. 1424.