File No. 763.72112/226
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany ( Gerard )
Washington , October 28, 1914.
[Telegram]
514. British Government have stated that cotton is not in lists of contraband and that they have no intention of interfering with shipments on ground of its being contraband. It would appear therefore that cotton can be shipped in neutral vessels to German ports. Please request German Government to make similar statement regarding cotton, explaining to them the desire of American shippers to send cotton to Russian ports on the Baltic. Intimate that such declaration will operate as strong preventive to any change by British Government as to their policy in regard to cotton.