File No. 763.72112/1266
It seems to me highly desirable that we should do everything possible
to prevent the utilization of war measures in this country as
instruments for the transfer to British control of various lines of
trade and commerce.
[Enclosure]
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the American
Ambassador (Page)
Sir: I have the honor to bring to your
attention the following facts in regard to trading in cotton in
this country, in the hope that you will find it practicable to
lay the circumstances before the Foreign Office on my behalf and
to obtain the views of that department of the Government.
Although cotton has not been declared contraband of war, the
British authorities have taken steps in their own interests, the
effect of which has been practically to prevent the shipment of
the commodity mentioned from American ports to various neutral
ports in Europe. Many cargoes which went forward from the United
States under the so-called cotton agreement have been detained
in this country and shipments forwarded outside the terms of
that agreement are in an even less favorable situation.
As far as can be observed, the British authorities have
interposed a veto upon the carrying on of this important branch
of our trade with the Scandinavian countries and with Holland.
While this has been the situation during the past few months in
respect of shipments from the United States, enormously
increased quantities of cotton, and American cotton principally,
have been exported from Great Britain to the same destinations
from which our own trading ships are excluded.
It cannot have escaped your observation that the extraordinary
recent re-exportations of cotton from Great Britain have led to
a discussion of the question in Parliament, and according to
trustworthy reports, the House of Commons has been informed that
the Board of Trade has now set up a cotton licensing committee
for the purpose of scrutinizing more closely exports of the
commodity under consideration, apparently with the intention of
permitting the business to continue subject to control.
I should very much like to be informed whether any steps have
been taken by any branch of the British Government to facilitate
the carrying on of business in cotton between the United States
and neutral European ports, as it certainly cannot be admitted
that all American ships bringing cotton to Europe are to be
detained and their cargoes placed in the prize courts, while the
trade of this country is given every opportunity to be carried
on and to be increased.
The matter is one of such grave concern that I earnestly hope it
may prove possible to obtain a full discussion of the subject at
a very early date.
I have [etc.]
