File No. 300.115/1437
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
Washington, December 4, 1914, 9:30 p.m.
[Telegram]
684. Consignment of copper by American Metal Company on steamer Sif, consigned to B. Ursells, Efterfölger, Stockholm, was taken from vessel and is detained at Glasgow, and shipment on steamer Sigrun similarly consigned held at Newport. Department desires you ascertain and report grounds of these seizures. Shippers assert that copper is definitely consigned to Swedish concern, and not intended for belligerents, that they have no knowledge that it is intended ultimately to reach belligerent destination, and that they shipped in reliance upon statement by the British authorities that the Governments of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark had given assurances that reexportation of articles, listed as contraband would be forbidden.
In view of Sir Edward Grey’s statement that copper on Tyr and other ships is held because Sweden has not forbidden reexportation of copper, Department anticipates these seizures are upon same grounds and if such is the case you will insist upon the release of the shipments in question.