niversity,
Ithaca, N. Y.

DEAR SIR:

Returning to Ithaca, I find your letter with its question relating to
the temporary arrest of a vessel carrying munitions of war to Spain
shortly after the beginning of our war with that country. The simple
facts are as follows: Receiving a message by wire from our American
Consul at Hamburg early during the war, to the effect that a Spanish
vessel supposed to carry munitions for Spain was just leaving Germany,
I asked the Foreign Office that the vessel be searched before leaving,
my purpose being not only to get such incidental information as
possible regarding the contraband concerned, but particulars as to the
nature of the vessel, whether it was so fitted that it could be used
with advantage by our adversaries against our merchant navy, as had
happened during our Civil War, when Great Britain let out of her ports
vessels fitted to prey upon our merchant ships.

The German Government was very courteous to us in the matter and it was
found that the Spanish ship concerned was not so fitted up and that the
contraband was of a very ordinary sort, such as could be obtained from
various nations. The result was that the vessel, after a brief visit,
proceeded on her way, and our agents at Hamburg informed me later that
during the entire war vessels freely carried ammunition from German
ports both to Spain and to the United States, and that neither of the
belligerents made any remonstrance. Of course, I was aware that under
the usages of nations I had, strictly speaking, no right to demand
seizure of the contraband concerned, but it seemed my duty at least to
secure the above information regarding it and the ship which carried it.

I remain, dear sir,

Very respectfully yours,

(_Signed_) ANDREW D. WHITE.

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