File No. 165.102/5
The Silk Dyers’ Mutual Protective Association of America to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21.]
Dear Sir: At a meeting of the Silk Dyers’ Mutual Protective Association of America, held at its offices this day, the secretary was, by resolution, directed to bring to your attention the situation in which the silk dyers now find themselves by reason of the European war.
As you probably know, Paterson is the center of the silk industry of the United States and all silk either before or after its manufacture must be dyed.
The Silk Dyers’ Mutual Protective Association of America comprises practically all persons, firms, and corporations engaged in the business of dyeing silk in the United States. The States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut are among those in which most of the manufacturing of silk is carried on and this association has been informed that the number of persons employed in the allied industries dependent upon the dyeing of silk and other materials greatly exceeds that employed in any other one industry.
This association recognizes the demands made upon you at this time, but makes its plea because of the most unusual conditions now existing and because also, it is believed, that only by some such action as herein indicated can the great silk business of the United States be protected, probably saved.
In dyeing silk much of the material used can be obtained only from Germany. At present but little of this material can be had because of the war in Europe. This association has been advised, however, that there is plenty of such material in Germany ready for shipment and that, if this material can be moved down the Rhine to some point of shipment, such as Rotterdam, then its transportation to the United States will be a comparatively simple matter.
The war will affect the manufacture of silk in Germany, France, and other countries so that there will be little or no demand for this dyestuff in those countries and therefore, the manufacturers of this dyestuff will facilitate and aid as much as they can the shipment of the material to some neutral port.
We ask you to help us at this most critical time to devise some means by which this material can be moved and transported as above stated.
Respectfully yours,
Association of America
By Edwin Bodmer, jr., Secretary