Over the next few days, the German ambassador to the US von Bernstorff attempted to give guarantees that the decree did not apply to imported grain such as that carried by Wilhemina, and that therefore the ship's cargo would not be used by the military.

By this point in her journey, Wilhemina had received storm damage, and so sailed of her own volition into Falmouth, Cornwall on February 9 in need of repairs.

In the event, formal proceedings never took place, though a storm of diplomacy ensued where the Germans used the vessel to justify their submarine campaign, the British sought to justify their blockade, and the Americans declared their opposition to the British breach of historical precedent and their acceptance of the German position that the late January decree did not impact the ship's cargo.

Thus, the 1915 U-boat campaign continued until the sinking of the SS Arabic (1902), while the British issued a March 11 Order in Council to "seize all ships carrying goods of presumed enemy destination, ownership, or origin".

Eventually in mid-1916 Lord Mersey awarded Hall's company the full (Hamburg) value of the cargo plus damages, but denied the principle of free trading rights.

[9][1] On 5 July 1916 the Wilhelmina was struck by a Brazilian navy transport, the SS Sargento Albuquerque in the bay of Rio de Janeiro.