sir,
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
368
Hongkong, November 6, 1914.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communic- ation of His Excellency the Governor under date of November 5th and
have noted with concern the facts set forth therein.
The prevention of the exportation of coal for unneutral purposes or otherwise in the Philippine Islands and in the United
States generally is a matter of maicipal law and it is not easy to
bring any particular case within the scope of a general law without
more facts than are usually to be had in connection with the proposed
departure of a vessel from port.
This office is not prepared to admit that the sailing of
these several ships with coal, under the circumstances surrounding their respective clearances and under the exceptional circumstances new existing wherein usual coal supplies of many ports in the Pacific
have been interfered with by governments or otherwise, constitutes any
situation not properly explainable or to be naturally anticipated and it certainly cannot admit that the whole circumstances justify the position that the Philippines are being used as a base of operations
by the German squadron.
It is in line with the most explicit instructions of the Government at Washington, however, that all officers in all branches of the Goverment of the United States shall do all within their pover and within the scope of municipal law in the United States to observe the most strict neutrality possible in the present war and I have great pleasure in referring His Excellency's communication to the Governor-General of the Philippines and to the Department of State in
Washington.
Sd.
I have, etc.
GEORGE E. ANDERSON
Consul-General
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong.
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