File No. 665.11251/5
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
Washington, November 18, 1914.
[Telegram]
564. Department has received information from Italian Embassy in Washington that by a decree of the Italian Government dated November 13, 1914, all goods, the exportation of which from Italy is forbidden, cannot be reshipped abroad in transit or through transshipment after having arrived at an Italian port, if the bill of lading indicates Italy is their destination declared at the place of shipment or if the bill of lading fails to contain any specified destination.1 Inquire of British Government whether, in view of the fact that this decree apparently provides for a complete prohibition of the reexportation of shipments to Italy consigned to order or directly to an importer, the British authorities would be inclined to question the destination of or interfere with shipments to Italy of any articles contained in the British Government’s list of contraband and conditional contraband articles, if such shipments are consigned to order or to a specified consignee. Report by telegraph as soon as possible regarding this matter.
- Statement handed to the Acting Secretary of State by the Italian commercial delegate, November 17. Decree not printed.↩