Mr. McCormick to Mr. Hay.

No. 141.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you herewith a copy of Law Bulletin No. 65, of April 23, 1904, containing, under the No. 744, the ukase of His Majesty the Emperor placing cotton among the articles imperially declared on February 14/27 to be contraband of war.

As I have already cabled, the customs authorities informed me, in answer to inquiry made of them, that this decree applied to raw cotton. I have asked through the foreign office that this information be transmitted’ to me officially, and I have no reason to believe that such official information will be other than that furnished to me in response to the inquiry above alluded to.

I have, etc.,

Robert S. McCormick.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

extract from law bulletin no. 65, april 23, 1904.

* * * * * * *

No. 744. Cotton recognized as contraband of war.

His Majesty the Emperor, on the 8/21 of April, 1904, has imperially sanctioned cotton to be placed among the articles imperially declared on February 14/27, 1904, to be contraband of war.