File No. 165.009/254
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard)
Washington, December 15, 1914, 10 p.m.
[Telegram]
825. Your December 4, 9 p.m.,1 and December 8, 4 p.m. Netherlands Government announce no difficulty will be presented to consignments cotton in transit to Germany or transshipments when consigned Dutch firms who may secure transit permits before or upon arrival of ship. Cargoes of cotton on American and other neutral vessels are going forward to German and neutral ports for transshipment. No cargo cotton has been detained by Allies except incident to detention of alleged contraband cargo. Cotton shippers, wherever practicable, are avoiding involving their shipments with other goods concerning which there is question of contraband. Reliance [Page 404] is placed on British assurance that cotton will be treated as non-contraband and not subjected to seizure. Every encouragement given cotton shippers for present, and prospective shipments to Germany, or Austria, and movement in that direction well under way. Greatest obstacle appears to be difficulty of navigation through North Sea and mine area, and effecting insurance.
- Not printed.↩