The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at London (Skinner)

[Telegram]

See Department’s August 23, 6 p.m., to Ambassador and previous instructions to you.1

If you deem advisable you may appear before Bonar Law’s committee for expeditious settlement of matter of freight, making plain the attitude of this Government as stated in instructions referred to, and in order to prevent losses from further detention on account of payment of freight, you may advise American interests to pay freight if finally demanded with protest, question to be determined on principle later, and if decided in our favor all freight collected to be reimbursed.

Lansing
  1. Ante, p. 306.