File No. 763.72112/1618
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12.45 p. m.]
2861. I am to-day in receipt of following memorandum, dated September 24, from Foreign Office:
His Majesty’s Government have already announced that goods of German origin which were both ordered and paid for before the 1st March would not be interfered with under the British order in council of the 11th March, 1915.
[Page 239]They can now state that goods of enemy origin shipped from neutral ports will not be interfered with where it is proved to their satisfaction that the goods were ordered by or for the account of citizens or subjects of neutral states before the 1st March, 1915, and that, by the terms of the contract under which they were ordered, the purchaser is obliged to take delivery of the goods on or before shipment, and is therefore bound to pay for them.
In the case of running contracts it must be shown, before the goods will be allowed to proceed, that the contract has been determined, or will be determined, without delay. Where there is no power to determine the contract, His Majesty’s Government cannot undertake to pass the goods without further consideration.
All applications to His Majesty’s Government that goods may be allowed to proceed without interference should be made before the 1st November, 1915.