File No. 763.72112/1776
The Counsel for the American Importers’ Association (T. S. Sharretts) to the Secretary of State
Sir: In behalf of the members of the American Importers’ Association, U. S. A., and of importers generally throughout the country, I have the honor to call your attention to conditions that are engendering a feeling of resentment against Great Britain which, unless relieved by the adoption of a more liberal and equitable attitude by that nation toward American merchants, will greatly embarrass the President and yourself if Great Britain desires a continuance of unrestricted traffic with the United States.
Viewing the matter from a purely business standpoint, importers fail to recognize the justice of Great Britain being enabled to receive from our country everything in the form of merchandise which it demands, so long as it refuses to accord reciprocal rights to the merchants of the United States. With much force they contend that if we supply certain of the belligerents with food, livestock, arms, and ammunition, as neutrals we are entitled to receive from other belligerent nations goods for which our merchants have contracted and have paid for or must pay for.
[Page 234]It is not my purpose to discuss this feature of the case, referring to it merely to illustrate the cause of resentment which is gaining strength with each postponement of a promised adjustment of a disturbing condition.
American importers have been greatly incensed because of deliveries of great quantities of merchandise stored at Rotterdam, procured for a number of importers through the activities of attorneys who in many cases insisted upon excessive fees for their services, while the same privilege was denied to others operating through our foreign trade advisers, acting in a quasi-official capacity.
This favoritism has resulted in unfair competition in our home trade, by reason of which the business of many of our merchants has been interfered with and their customers alienated to those concerns able to supply their demands.
The British authorities, you will recall, issued notice that after June 15, 1915, no applications for permits of delivery would be considered or received from the trade advisers. But, at the same time, private attorneys had no difficulty in securing the release of merchandise for their clients. Complaints were filed with the State Department, and upon presentation of the facts to Great Britain this country was notified that claims properly attested in accordance with specified conditions and filed in behalf of importers by the trade advisers, would be duly allowed. Acting upon this advice, Judge Fleming strenuously insisted that all importers should be treated alike, in order to guard against the possibility of certain importers being placed in a position to seriously injure the trade of their competitors. To insure that result it was suggested that all settlements should be made through our trade advisers and the British Embassy at Washington, and the newspapers throughout the country announced the fact that this arrangement had been made. At a conference at the British Embassy on September 7 between Sir Richard Crawford, Judge Fleming, and myself, Sir Richard Crawford stated that in future all settlements would be effected by, the trade advisers and the British Embassy at Washington, and that no further settlements would be made abroad. That fact was also announced in the leading papers of the country through the medium of Associated Press dispatches.
Hundreds of importers throughout the United States immediately communicated with the trade advisers at Washington, in the belief that at last they were able to secure possession of their goods, but, apparently adhering to a policy of procrastination, if not of evasion, Great Britain has up to the present moment failed to redeem its promise.
The contemptuous manner in which Great Britain has ignored the rights of American citizens, while making promises of just treatment that have not been kept, has led to the point where American merchants will no longer submit without reprisal. They are preparing, as they would have done weeks ago had I not exercised my influence to prevent, to hold meetings in all of our principal cities to denounce the dictatorial and illegal policy of Great Britain toward the United States. The arbitrary method pursued by the British [Page 235] Foreign Office of granting special favors to private attorneys, who have forced our importers through their necessities to pay sums of money for permits so far in excess of legitimate fees, while refusing to permit the business to be transacted through our trade advisers, has created a suspicion of unfair dealing. To such an extent have importers resented this and regarded it as an insult to our Government, they are preparing to take up the matter with the Senators and Representatives of their respective states, with a view to curtailing the benefits Great Britain derives from unrestricted shipments from the United States so long as she continues to treat its great mass of importers in contumely and with contempt.
There is a fast-growing resentment against the intolerance of Great Britain which needs but little impetus to render it uncontrollable. Throughout the Middle West, and indeed throughout the entire country, there is a great German population, either by birth or immediate descent, who have so far given their loyal support to the Administration, but who, unless the British orders in council are made to hew closer to international law, will exercise a potent influence upon national legislation that will come very near creating an embargo upon the exportation of war supplies to Great Britain as an answer to that country’s embargo upon the legitimate importation from neutral countries of American-owned merchandise. I am convinced that the time has arrived when this Government, through you, must notify Great. Britain that while not recognizing the legality of its orders in council interfering with American trade with neutral countries, it is due to American merchants to protect them against partial treatment and unjust favoritism, and that in order to accomplish this no permits for the delivery of merchandise shall be issued except such as have been passed upon by our foreign trade advisers and the British Embassy at Washington.
Respectfully,