File No. 300.115/1000
Four Copper Exporting Companies to the Secretary of State
[Telegram]
The undersigned, representing nearly 90 per cent of the copper export trade of this country, have the honor to lay before you the following facts:
We learned yesterday by cable that the Italian steamers San Giovanni and Regina d’Italia have been seized by British authorities at Gibraltar because part of cargoes consist of copper shipped from this country. The San Giovanni has 450 tons belonging to American Smelting and Refining Company and consigned in conformity with universal practice in the trade to order of that company at Genoa. The Regina d’Italia has 1,160 tons of which 150 belong to the American Smelting and Refining Company, 200 to the American Metal Company, 410 to the Consolidated Metals Company, and 400 to the United Metals Selling Company, practically all being consigned in the usual course in the same way. We are further advised this morning by shipping agents that the American Line steamer Kroonland, flying the American flag and having on board 800 tons [Page 331] of copper belonging to American Smelting and Refining Company and 500 to the United Metals Selling Company, has also been seized and is detained at Gibraltar. The copper consigned in usual course as in the other cases. Moreover, we have just been notified by the New York agents of the Sicilian-American Line that for reasons which cannot be explained it absolutely declines to ship any copper by its steamer San Giorgio ; and this morning the Lloyd Sabaudo Line has given notice of its refusal of a shipment of copper and cancellation of contract unless the name of an Italian consignee shall be given, together with a guarantee that the copper shall not be reexported from Italy, which guarantee it is manifestly impossible for the American exporter to give. These measures of interference with our commerce threaten to stop altogether the exportation of copper from the United States to Europe and this means practically the stopping of the entire export business in that metal except to England and France, since there is no demand for the American product outside of Europe. The stopping of the export trade would affect disastrously the copper-mining industry through the West. We beg leave respectfully to ask consideration of the facts above set forth and such representations and action by our Government as it may deem appropriate for the relief of the critical situation in which the industry we represent is now placed, and we shall be very grateful to be acquainted of the action taken by the Department to that end.
United Metals Selling Company
The American Metal Company, Ltd.
Consolidated Metals Company