File No. 300.115/1788
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of facts submitted by Armour and
Company of Chicago concerning cargoes of meat-food products
to Copenhagen in vessels sailing under the Norwegian flag,
detained and held by the British Government
Following the suggestions in the public press said to have been
based on the spoken attitude of the officials of our Government
calling attention of the commercial interests of the United
States to the great opportunities to extend our foreign trade
brought about by the great conflict raging between foreign
nations, we as large packers of cattle and hog products for food
purposes have sought to extend the exportation of the products
save fresh meats, but mare largely lard and cured hog-meats, to
the neutral countries, until at the present time we have on the
high seas or detained at English ports by the British Government
in neutral ships consigned to neutral countries a large amount
of these products all shipped in manner and form within
international law, 600 carloads, aggregating in value
approximately $2,000,000.
As we probably represent only from one fourth to one third of the
export business in these products, it is fair and reasonable to
state the aggregate value of such products now on the high seas
and detained as aforesaid, all
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shipped within a month or six weeks, to be
of from $6,000,000 to $8,000,000; that of this amount probably
$2,000,000 worth is detained by the British Government, some of
it for as long as two weeks, and the shortest for more than one
week, for reasons not yet disclosed.
The prospective export business in these products to neutral
countries based on the foregoing figures, will aggregate upwards
of $75,000,000 annually and is in jeopardy because of the long
detentions aforesaid and fear of seizures, the loss of which
export business, if it occurs, and must occur unless there is
speedy relief from the present unreasonable and unjust
hindrances, will fall not only most heavily on us as packers,
but in a measure must also fall on the farmer and livestock
grower who produces the hogs and livestock from which the
products are manufactured.
We have continued to solicit orders, make sales to the same
parties in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden and ship in the same way
as for many years past, and, as stated, some of the ships
carrying the products have been detained to such an extent that
we are compelled to forego further efforts to extend the
exportation of these products to neutral countries until the
detained shipments are released and the future made clear as to
whether shipments to neutral countries can be made without undue
and unreasonable detentions and hindrances. The following facts
touching three different shipments best illustrate the
difficulties:
We shipped to Copenhagen, Denmark, on S. S. Alfred Nobel
of the Gans Line sailing from New York, October 20,
1914, 75 carloads of meat products, mostly lard, valued at
$200,000. The Nobel was detained by the
British on or about November 5 last and taken to the Shetland
Islands, and later on, or about November 14, as we are informed,
taken to Liverpool. This ship has therefore been detained about
two weeks and no reason yet given therefor, nor is any
information as to reason for so long a detention obtainable by
our Department of State notwithstanding its efforts in this
respect.
The S. S. Björnstjerne Björnson
sailing from New York October 27 last and the
S. S. Fridland
sailing from the same port October 28 last,
containing 84 and 53 cars respectively of our meat-food
products, mostly lard, for Copenhagen, valued at about $400,000,
have likewise been detained at English ports, for reasons
likewise unknown, and not yet obtainable.
The shipments were consigned to “order Armour and Company
notify,” as has always been the custom of Armour and Company, so
that goods will not be delivered at destination without
surrender of bill of lading after payment of draft or other
arrangement made for payment. The plan of consignment “to order”
is a credit matter wholly, a commercial practice of long
standing, and has no bearing whatever on anything else. The
objection of Great Britain to consigning “to order” was made
after these three shipments had cleared from New York, and can
have no effect thereon.
Other packers have large shipments of the same kind of meat-food
products on the three ships named, going to the same neutral
countries; and thus taken together meat-food products make up
the greater part of the cargoes of such detained ships, all of
which ships fly the Norwegian flag, and carry cargoes consigned
from one neutral country to another neutral country.
We call attention to the fact that shipments of our same products
to same neutral ports, consigned “to order,” all in exactly the
same way as in the three detained ships, left New York both
before and since the sailing from New York of the three detained
ships, have reached destination and the goods delivered to
purchasers in the usual and customary manner: e. g.,
S. S. Frederick
VIII left New York October 31, 1914,
carrying 44 cars of our meat products, arrived at Copenhagen
November 10.
We therefore respectfully ask: (1) That the reason for the
detention of the three ships mentioned be ascertained without
further delay, and if perchance there has been found contraband
on board (which the steamship line denies to us), that it be
removed at once, so that the ships may proceed to destination
for the delivery of the meat-food products thereon, or that some
method be promptly put into effect insuring immediate release
and prompt forwarding of the meat-food products thereon to
destination, Copenhagen.
(2) That the lawful right to ship meat-food products to Denmark,
Norway, and Sweden be determined so that we may know [under]
what conditions and restrictions we may safely ship or refrain
from making further shipments, which we are willing to do if our
Government should so decide, and must do if no effective plan is
arranged for future shipments.
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(3) We respectfully suggest that objection be made now and from
time to time as necessity may require, against improper and
unreasonable proclamations defining conditional contraband and
conditions governing same and urge that proclamations be
submitted to our Government and if approved, publicity be given
to exporters for their information and guidance before becoming
effective.
In this connection attention is called to the unusual and
extraordinary requirement in paragraph (iv) of Great Britain’s
proclamation effective October 29, 1914 (not made known to us
until two weeks later and after the three shipments now held by
the British Government had sailed from New York for Copenhagen),
which requirement is as follows: “In cases covered by the
preceding paragraph (iii) it shall lie upon the owners of the
goods to prove that their destination was innocent.” All of
which we respectfully submit.
Armour and Company
By
George B. Robbins
Alfred R. Urion
