The Counselor for the Department of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice)
Washington, October 2, 1914.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo in which you tell me among other things that you, acting under instructions, “telegraphed to British consuls not to raise any difficulties in case of transfer to the American flag of a ship already, before the war, owned by Americans, it being understood that ships transferred in this manner will not be employed to trade with Germany or to supply Germany through Scandinavian or Dutch ports.”
I am afraid that the latter part of this instruction as to the understanding relative to the trade routes of American-owned vessels, which assume American nationality, will be the cause of very considerable criticism and justly so in my opinion. I do not see how a British official can comply with it without obtaining a written guaranty from the American owner that the vessel will not engage in the “tabooed” trade. That an American owner would give such guaranty I doubt, and, furthermore, I would not advise his doing so if my advice is asked, as it appears to be a restriction upon our neutral rights of commerce, which has no support in international law.
I am writing you thus frankly in regard to this matter as I fear that an attempt to act in accord with the instructions will compel this Government to protest formally against an attempted interference with our legitimate rights of trade, and initiate a discussion which it would be well, if possible, to avoid.
I am [etc.]