The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Grey) to the British Ambassador at Washington (Spring Rice)
London, October 19, 1914.
[Handed to the Acting Secretary of State
by the British Ambassador, October 20.]
[Telegram—Copy]
Result of discussion with United States Ambassador and Mr. Anderson is that to proceed on lines of my telegram No. 116 treaty seems the most practicable course.
Our new list of contraband conflicts with Article 28 of the Declaration of London and therefore prevents an unqualified acceptance of the declaration.
We proposed, however, to draw up a more general proclamation repealing all royal proclamations, accepting the Declaration of London in general terms but making the exceptions contained in draft proclamation already submitted.
We should be willing to make it clear to the United States Government that our object was solely to prevent contraband goods from reaching an enemy and not to interfere with bona fide commerce with any neutral state.
We should not ask United States Government to accept proclamation but should like it to be understood that while reserving all rights under international law as regards treatment of any particular cargo, they would not enter any protest against the proclamation itself or the list of contraband as being invalid.
You should explain this and my telegram No. 116 to State Department. United States Ambassador is also telegraphing.