File No. 763.72112/1733
The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 15.]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: With reference to your note of August 25 last,1 in which you were good enough to forward to me a letter from the Post Office Department to the effect that contraband articles were excluded from the parcel-post mails from this country to Germany and Austria-Hungary, I have the honour to bring to your notice the following information which has reached His Majesty’s Embassy:
[Page 734]The Rex Chemical Company of Broadway, New York, are said to be shipping large quantities of “mineral slag” by parcel post.
The Traun Rubber Company, of Broadway, are said to be shipping large quantities of rubber by parcel post formerly under the designation of “Printing Material Compound” and lately of “Rubber Stamp Material.”
Large consignments of strong heavily made shoes suitable for military use have also been sent by parcel post and the size and number of these shipments would appear to indicate an organized attempt to evade, by the use of United States mails, the legitimate efforts of the Allied Governments to prevent contraband articles reaching Germany and Austria.
I have no means of controlling this information and I therefore submit it to you unofficially for such enquiry as may be deemed proper.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩