File No. 763.72112/206
The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ( Grey ) to the British Minister at Stockholm ( Howard )
[Left at the Department of State by the British Ambassador, October 15, 1914.]
[Telegram]
We wish to avoid interference with any ship bona fide carrying cargoes for consumption in neutral countries.
On receiving from Swedish Government an assurance that cargoes, of which exportation is prohibited, will be landed at port of destination and not exported, vessels carrying such cargo will not be detained after verification of their papers in a port.
An assurance that this applies to oil and copper and rubber is especially important at this moment.
If vessels carrying such cargoes for Swedish ports will call at a British port, such as Falmouth, Lough Swilly, or Kirkwall, on their way, notice will be sent to the fleet which will prevent their being searched or stopped at sea, provided of course they do not commit any unneutral act.
In fact, if all vessels for Scandinavian ports will call at a British port on their way, it will avoid the delay and inconvenience of being stopped at sea.
You should communicate at once with the government to which you are accredited and ask for early reply.
You should instruct British consuls at ports of departure to urge upon shipping agents the practical advantage of adopting the course recommended in fourth and fifth paragraphs.