File No. 763.72111Sp1/10
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Willard )
566. It has been reported to the Department that a number of Allied and neutral merchant vessels have recently been destroyed by German submarines within Spanish territorial waters. Please ask Foreign Office if such is the fact, and what measures, if any, the Spanish Government is taking to protect their neutrality in this respect. It is a matter of grave importance to this Government inasmuch as among other considerations our trade with Spain carried on by means of American ships is endangered. Obtain and forward the sworn statements and all other evidence of these violations of neutral waters from your British colleague. In all cases of reports of violations of Spanish neutrality the Department must have a complete, detailed and authentic statement of facts before it can assume to act.