File No. 300.115/1572

The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

Department’s November 191 and others relating to Alfred Nobel, Björnstjerne Björnson, and Fridland involving Swift and Company, Morris and Sulzberger Packing Company. After repeated fruitless inquiries I asked procurator December 3 on behalf Swift precisely what proofs and guarantees of neutral destination were required pledging Swift and Company comply completely with any reasonable requirements in order to obtain release of goods. December 4 procurator replied: “To ascertain what assurances would be acceptable to British Government in this matter I am to refer you to Foreign Office who will be able to give you any information.” Foreign Office already on November 28 had replied: “These vessels and their cargoes have been put into prize court where every facility will be given owners to establish rights.” Thus we are traveling in circle without hope of exit except through formal decision prize court, and prize court now four months behind time.

Respectfully suggest diplomatic arrangement under which I may discuss specific cases with competent British representative authorized [Page 356] to expose facts from British point of view and prepare plan for prompt settlement. Present inaction except by prize-court processes and inability of anyone to state grounds for detention of ships disastrous to private interests and causing increasing irritation. Present position apparently is that American cargo interests presumed guilty but will be afforded opportunity to prove innocence at some undetermined time in prize court.

Skinner
  1. Not printed.