File No. 300.115/2013
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11.30 p. m.]
1414. In reply to your 780 and 797. Consul General Skinner reports that copper and rubber have been shipped from United Kingdom to Allies but that very small quantities have been allowed to go to other European countries. It took one firm in London six weeks to get permission to send 25 tons of copper to Italy. The shipments to neutral countries have been inconsiderable.
The export of rubber was prohibited to all countries only on November 20. By far the largest quantity exported to any country in August, September, October, and November was exported to the United States. This quantity was for August 1914 about the same as for August 1912; for September it was twice as large as for September 1912; for October two and a half times; for November twice as much.
Skinner reports that while there are dealers who no doubt hope to divert copper trade to this country which properly belongs to the United States, they have not influenced the public authorities. So much for Skinner’s first report, full text of which is sent by mail.1
A member of the firm of Symington and Company, rubber dealers, has informed Stabler of Embassy that such shipments of rubber as have been made to Sweden were made on Swedish Government’s guarantee against exportation and that lately no rubber has been allowed to go to Sweden. British Government caused large rubber firm in Milan to cancel contract made before war with Austrian Government. Small quantities of rubber have since been permitted to enter Italy under this firm’s guarantee transmitted through Italian Government.
There is no evidence at hand that British Government has issued permits for exportation which helped to divert trade in favor of Great Britain in articles held up by British Navy.
- Not printed.↩