File No. 300.115/28361

The Commercial Adviser of the British Embassy (Crawford) to the Foreign Trade Adviser of the Department of State (Rose)

Dear Mr. Rose : After careful consideration of your letter of the 29th ultimo I am of opinion that it raises questions of principle which do not fall within the sphere of our unofficial relations and which are apparently embraced within the official interchange of views, now proceeding between our respective Governments, in relation to the order in council of March 11, 1915.

I feel sure, however, that under the procedure contemplated in Article 4 of, the order in council, American importers will be accorded every facility to establish their claims, before adjudication, in the event of the detention of any merchandise, the title to which had passed to them prior to March 1.

Yours very truly,

R. F. Crawford