File No. 763.72112/1099
The Consul General at London ( Skinner ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 10.]
Sir: I have the honor to advert to my despatch No. 215 dated January 1, 1915,1 in regard to the practice of the prize court authorities up to that time of compelling American claimants of detained cargo to pay unearned freight. It will be recalled that with the Department’s approval I protested against this practice and that on December 23 last, the Foreign Office decided to desist therefrom when the goods had been brought into a British port in an enemy vessel. The prize court authorities thereupon were asked to reimburse shippers who had already paid freight charges, and to-day I have received a letter from the procurator general, dated April 26, declaring that he has no list of such cases, and cannot assume the responsibility of making one up. In the circumstances he proposes that “any person wishing to make a claim for return of freight should furnish you (me) with the particulars, or should make his claim through solicitors so that it could be examined on its merits either by the Admiralty marshal or by this Department.”
As there is no reason why these claims should not be paid at once, and as they will not be paid at all unless those who are properly claimants make them known in some manner, I suggest that the Department issue a notice to the press, setting forth the circumstances more or less in the terms of the enclosure.
I have [etc.]