§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information showing that the repairs to the "Prinz Eitel Fried-rich" included the use of the port for
210Wcleaning her hull, thereby increasing her speed and her chances of escape from British cruisers; and, if such assistance was given, whether we have any assurance that the "Kronprinz Wilhelm" will only receive assistance to the extent of rendering her seaworthy for a trip to a German port within a recognised period of time?
§ Sir E. GREYArticle 17, of the 13th Hague Convention of 1907, reads:—
In neutral ports and roadsteads belligerent warships may only carry out such repairs as are absolutely necessary to render them seaworthy, and may not add in any manner whatever to their fighting force. The local authorities of the neutral Power shall decide what repairs are necessary, and these must be carried out with the least possible delay.The German auxiliary cruiser "Prinz Eitel Friedrich" before her internment, had her bottom cleaned and coated with non-fouling composition while in dry dock at Newport News, thus considerably increasing her speed. His Majesty's Government protested on the ground that the increase to her speed (or radius of action, as the case might be) was an increase to her fighting force such as the above quoted article forbids. The United States Government refuse to admit this, considering that any damage sustained from the action of the sea and not inflicted by the enemy may be made good. They also called attention to the provision that the local authorities of the neutral Power shall decide what repairs are necessary.