File No. 300.115/729
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
Washington, October 13, 1914.
[Telegram]
300. The frequent seizure and detention by British of Dutch vessels carrying American cargo, particularly cottonseed products of oil, cake, and meal, has resulted evidently in the announcement by Holland-America Line that it will not accept for shipment goods from this country destined to Dutch ports unless consigned to Netherlands Government. The cotton industry of the South is [Page 323] already greatly depressed and threatened with disaster. The situation with reference to commerce in general with neutral ports in northern Europe is very unsatisfactory to this Government and the British Government must appreciate that the Government of the United States cannot be inactive when legitimate American commerce is interrupted and when American rights of trade with neutral countries are not observed.
You will bring these views at once to the attention of the British Government and urge them for some comprehensive and specific statement which will make clear that. American commerce, when conducted in due course of trade on American or neutral vessels, will receive at the hands of Great Britain all the rights to which it is entitled under international law and usage. The Department believes that a point has been reached when some satisfactory understanding respecting our commerce with the neutral countries of. Europe should be arrived at.