File No. 763.72112/455
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, December 7, 1914.
[Received 7 p.m.]
[Telegram]
1209. In my effort to find out something about the copper trade which is giving us so much shipping trouble I am told in American trade circles here that many of the cargoes of copper shipped from the United States to neutral European countries are shipped to dummy concerns which are German in neutral disguise and that they transship them to the German Government openly or secretly as they can. Even if they can [ship] copper no further than a neutral destination, they use it there in making ammunition [for shipment to] Germany. I am told that much of this copper is paid for by agents of the German Government before it leaves American ports; in other words that the claim of neutral trade and use made by some shippers is false.
I do not know to what extent this may be true. And I have no means of confirming or disproving it. I send it thinking you will probably wish to investigate the truth of what shippers [claim], Of course I realize that all this is no concern of ours unless fraudulent representations embarrass us diplomatically.
The price of copper is nearly twice as high in Germany as here and I am informed that German Government is requisitioning copper kettles and such like things from the people. The Swedish Minister informs me that Sweden has now put copper on the list of articles, the export of which is prohibited.