File No. 763.72112/1872
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7.34 p. m.]
2510. Sir Edward Grey has just informed me that he has telegraphed his Ambassador at Washington that the British Government will make cotton contraband before the new crop gets to market. The British commercial attaché at Washington is instructed to confer with the cotton interests and to [come] to some satisfactory working arrangement whereby this country will buy large quantities at a good price. Whatever arrangement is made will be announced when the announcement is made that cotton will be contraband.