Your telegram 4¹ and subsequent correspondence arrived with some delay. Your telegram 7 arrived January 6th.²

Under Secretary of State on leave. I have seen his deputy, Minister Plenipotentiary von Rintelen, head of Political Department.³

I protested as instructed and asked that measures should be taken to prevent recurrence.

He informed me German authorities had already begun enquiries. Preliminary examination concerning night January 1st–January 2nd not yet completed. Enquiries about night January 2nd–January 3rd so far negative. He stated if their investigations show German aircraft had been concerned, they would not hesitate to apologise and pay compensation. He added it is difficult to judge matter from Berlin, and he requested any available evidence be shown to German Minister or that photographs be sent to me. As was to be expected, he mentioned possibility of British provocation.

Continuation to follow.⁴