ATHENIA SINKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1939, Page 5

ATHENIA SINKING

FACTS PLACED BEFORE UNITED STATES FORMAL DECLARATION MADE BY BRITAIN. EXPOSURE OF ENEMY LIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, October 30. On instructions from his Majesty’s Government, the British Ambassador at Washington 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 or war 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 internal explosion, but, in accordance with the evidence in possession of his Majesty’s Government, by a 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 point of fact no guns or other munitions carried as cargo on the ship on that voyage.