File No. 841.731/130
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, December 11, 1914.
[Received December 12, 8:30 a.m.]
[Telegram]
1245. I have had a long conference with Sir Edward Grey and the head censor of commercial despatches and the head censor of press despatches. They strongly protest that they do not aim to impede neutral commerce.
I replied, “If you do impede it, what difference does it make what your aim is?”
They disclaimed any knowledge of [interference alleged] in your 664, December 2,1 and they thought that this must be the work of the Spanish censor. Not all telegrams to and from Europe come through London.
Your 678, December 3.2 They are making arrangements to put into effect about January 1 the same codes as are allowed by the French Cable Company. They say that Western Union’s information that the French company transmits plain Spanish messages for Spain is incorrect. They deny the alleged discrimination.
Your 679, December 3.1 I insisted that such a commercial body as the Galveston Cotton Exchange surely would not send improperly concealed telegrams. They granted this but declared that they had no memory of stopping telegrams from any such body. They could not find without endless labor the cables referred to in your 688, December 5, unless they knew the telegraphic route they come by; their files are kept by routes. Any specific complaint made giving date, places, sender’s and receiver’s names and telegraphic route would be promptly and gladly taken up.
I insisted that a daily list senders, dates, places, and addresses of all stopped telegrams to or from the United States should be sent to me. They promise to comply unless their [suspicions?] forbid. In fact I asked them if they would send me all stopped American telegrams. They replied that this would be illegal.
Please request future complainants to give data they request.
They confess there was ground for press complaints which they claim is now removed.
They say that certain German banks and institutions in the. United States have devised most ingenious codes which they use in most innocent looking telegrams.
I think the chief trouble is they have not [learned the] job.