File No. 763.72112/2259a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
2911. On January 5 I asked the British Ambassador here, in an informal note,1 when we might expect to receive his Government’s reply to our note of October 21 on the subject of British trade restrictions. He states that he communicated my inquiry to his Government. Please request the British Government to make a reply to this note as soon as possible.
For your information. The delay of the British Government in replying to the note of October 21, our protest of January 4 in regard to the mails,2 and our representations in regard to British enemy trading acts, is creating a bad impression here, as no attention is apparently being paid to our representations and as the unwarranted measures to which we are objecting are being continued with unabated vigor. This disregard of the representations of this Government, made seriously and in good faith, is not calculated to react favorably upon public opinion throughout the country, nor in Government circles, as it suggests no desire on the part of the British Government to negotiate in regard to plain violations of neutral rights with a view to reaching some satisfactory arrangements in regard to the matters in dispute. The grievances of Americans are real to them, and at the same time are based on violations of fundamental principles of international rights, which violations this Government is obliged to find means to remedy.