File No. 763.72112/282

The Acting Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice)

My dear Sir Cecil : In our conversation yesterday I called your attention to the fact that in the proclamation issued by the British Government on October 29, 1914, the only form of copper appearing in the schedule of absolute contraband is “copper, unwrought” (numbered 16 in the schedule). In Schedule 2, the conditional contraband list, appears in item 7 “materials for telegraphs, wireless telegraphs and telephones.” I assume that such materials include copper wire of certain grades.

In the interest of American dealers it is essential to know whether the British Government includes in the term “copper, unwrought” manufactured copper in any form, and whether the “materials” mentioned in item 7 of the list of conditional contraband includes copper wire, and, if so, of what grades.

It would oblige me very much if this subject receive your immediate attention as manufacturers in this country are entitled to know what treatment they may expect for shipments of their manufactured copper articles to Europe.

I am not unmindful of your letter to me of November 1 in which you state that according to the traditions of American and British [Page 283] law the decision as to the meaning of an item in contraband lists rests with the prize courts. In a case of this sort, however, where language is manifestly uncertain, I cannot believe that the British Government purposely made the language uncertain or will decline to explain its meaning. Such a course would be manifestly unreasonable and unjust to neutrals.

I am [etc.]

Robert Lansing