File No. 300.115/528
The North American Export Grain Association to the Secretary of State
[Received 5 p.m.]
[Telegram]
During the past week many vessels carrying grain and other foodstuffs from the United States to continental ports have been diverted to English ports. The precise causes of these diversions are not as yet precisely known but we are advised to-day that the British Admiralty are notifying shipowners to land the cargoes of the diverted vessels with the port authorities who are instructed to sell perishable cargo and store non-perishable. We beg you to cable our Ambassador in London to make immediate inquiry of the British Government concerning the action taken in these cases. In the present circumstances shippers are without protection and invoke the interposition of their Government for the protection of their property and interests.