No, 461*
Shipping "Athenla" 1461//S9_
HP
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON D* ;&|
October 30th, 1939,
Sir,
Too attention of Hla .'Majesty's Government
In the United Kingdom has been drawn to various
allegations published In this country regarding the
circumstances in which the British steamship "Athenla"
was sunk on September 3rd last, and In particular to
a statement made by Mr. Gustav Anderson of Evans ton,
Illinois, and printed in the "'New York Times" of
October 23rd*   In this statement Mr* Anderson alleged
that as a result of his conversations with the Chief
Officer of the "Athenla", Mr, B* tf. Copland, he had
reason to believe that the ship's cargo Included a
certain number of guns and that it was intended to
fit the ship out as a raider on the return journey and
that for this purpose her decks had been strengthened,
Mr* Anderson furthermore Implied in his statement
that the "Athenla" had finally been sunk by gunfire
from one of Hla Majesty's ships to prevent her becoming
a danger to navigation*
I have been instructed by His Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to
convey to you on behalf of Hla Majesty's Government in
the United Kingdom, a formal assurance that the £* s.
"Athenla", on the voyage in the course of which she
was sunk, carried no guns, munitions of war or explosives,
either/
The Honourable,
Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State for the United States,        L:VALM:PRHM:CL
\ £ j Washington, D* C*
a.
- 2 -
either as cargo or atoresj nor did she carry either
bullion or securities*   At the time of her sinking
the "Athenia* was neither armed nor stiffened to
receive armament of any kind, and it was not Intondad
to use the vessel as an armed raider, armed merchant
cruiser or In any other offensive capacity at the end
of the voyage on which she was sunk*   The ttAthenian
was not sunk by contact with a British mine, by a
British submarine, by gunfire from one of His Majesty's
ships or by internal explosion; according to the evl*
dence in the possession of His Majesty's Government she
was sunk by a submarine*
I am furthermore Instructed to Inform you
that Chief Officer Copland has sworn in an affidavit
that he never discussed with i4r* Gustav Anderson the
question whether or not there were guns on board the
"Athenla"•   Mr* Copland's affidavit also contains a
sworn statement that there were in point of fact no
guns or other munitions carried as cargo in the ship
on the voyage in question*
X have the honour to be,
Vflth the highest conslderatl
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant,
(SOD) LOTHIAI