File No. 763.72111/1113

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

1247. Sir Edward Grey unofficially expressed the hope to me that the bill introduced by Mr. Hitchcock in the Senate will not pass, aimed to prohibit the exportation by private firms of munitions of war to any belligerent. He calls attention to the fact that this would [Page 579] be special legislation passed while war is in progress making a radical departure from a long-established custom and that for this reason [it would appear?] an unneutral act towards the belligerents that can profit by it.

American Ambassador