BRITAIN'S CASE
SINKING OF ATHENIA
NO ARMS OR BULLION
(British Official Wireless.)
(Received October 31, 12130 p.m.)
RUGBY, October 30,
On instructions from bis Majesty's Government the British Ambassador at Washington, Lord Lothian, has conveyed to the Government of the United States the following assurances regarding the sinking of the Athenia:— Firstly, the Athenia carried no bullion or securities and no guns, munitions of war, or explosives, either as cargo or stores. Secondly, she was not sunk either by contact with a British mine, by a British submarine, by gunfire by a British destroyer, or by an internal explosion, but, in accordance with evidence in the possession of his Majesty's Government by submarine. Thirdly, she was neither armed nor stiffened to receive armament of any kind. • ' ■ ' Fourthly, it was not intended to use the vessel as an armed merchant cruiser or in any other offensive capacity at the end of the voyage on which she was sunk. '
Fifthly, the chief officer, Mr. B. McCopeland, of the Athenia, has sworn in an affidavit that he never discussed with Gustav Anderson the question of whether or not there were guns on board the ship and that there were, in fact, no guns or other munitions carried as cargo in the ship on that voyage. •
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1939, Page 8
Word Count
212BRITAIN'S CASE Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1939, Page 8
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