740.00112 European War 1939/357: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Kirk)
732. Some days ago, following an assertion in the United States Senate that tobacco had been placed on the German contraband list, the German Embassy here issued a statement reading in part as follows:
“tobacco will be considered as conditional contraband by Germany only when and if it should be included in the British list of conditional contraband.”
The British Embassy here advises us informally that tobacco does not appear on the British contraband list nor is it regarded as contraband by the British Government.
Unless you perceive objection you are requested to communicate this information informally to the appropriate German authorities with a view to ascertaining whether they would not be disposed to give you a statement which might be issued to the press clarifying the status of tobacco.