File No. 763.72112/215
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, October 24, 1914, 7 p.m.
[Received October 25, 12:06 a.m.]
[Telegram]
Sir Edward Grey informed me to-day that the new order in council substantially as I telegraphed it to you will be issued as soon as a conference about it with the French Government is concluded. He will add to contraband list aluminum, ferrosilica, barbed wire, and implements for fixing and cutting the same.
His understanding is that our Government neither accepts nor formally protests against the order in council, but reserves all rights to make protests and demands, case by case, under international law and usages and treaties.
I strongly urged upon Sir Edward Grey to permit publication in the United States of the lists of contraband and conditional contraband at earliest possible moment, so as to end uncertainty of shippers. He consents as soon as conference with French Government is concluded. I urged him also to have the Admiralty’s reasons for every detention of a ship made known to me in full and immediately, so that no time may be lost in each Government’s getting at the facts.
[Page 260]I suggested also that while any detention is a cause of irritation, the detention of a ship or cargo on this side of the Atlantic may in many cases be less irritating than detention just outside of New York. He promised me to convey this to the Admiralty. I suggested further that a proper and prompt publicity, inspired by each Government, of the facts in every case as soon as they could be ascertained would prevent erroneous versions from becoming fixed in the public mind.
In general I reminded Sir Edward of the delicacy and danger of all detention, and I expressed the hope that it was not too much to ask that he would remind the Admiralty of the need of the utmost caution.