File No. 165.102/102
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, October 5, 1914, 11 p.m.
[Received October 6, 9:30 p.m.]
[Telegram]
413. I believe that the real reason for putting a prohibition on export of dyestuffs, cyanide, etc., was to force us to send a ship to Rotterdam which would bring cotton or other goods needed here from America and I believe that if American ship comes in ballast that German merchants will refuse to ship their goods to America. I have no definite information, but I believe we shall have to meet this issue. Why not send cotton in these ships? Cyanide for mining, most dyestuffs, etc., are made under patents held by Germans. I suppose if Germans refuse to export in American ships or by way of Italy that Congress can authorize manufacture in the United States under these patents. There is a German mining-cyanide factory at Perth Amboy, New Jersey.