File No. 763.72112/1105

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State

No. 1312]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith for information of the Department, a copy of a memorandum which I left with Sir Edward Grey [Page 390] on the afternoon of April 28 after an interview with him in relation to the detention of American ships and cargoes by His Majesty’s authorities.

In view of the repeated assurances made by Sir Edward Grey in my various conversations with him, and particularly with reference to the statement contained in his note of February 10, that notification of detention of American ships and cargoes was being promptly made to the Embassy by the Foreign Office, I have regretted to notice during the past month that on some occasions I have not been informed in regard to these matters with the utmost promptitude, as was promised.

I therefore thought it my duty to bring this matter again to Sir Edward Grey’s attention, as this question assumes greater proportions on account of the number of ships and cargoes which are bound for different foreign ports from the United States, and are being detained for investigation to be made by the British Government.

I feel very sure that Sir Edward Grey and the other officials of the Foreign Office have desired, since the commencement of this serious condition of affairs in regard to American shipping, to act with promptness, and wish to give the Embassy all information in their possession. I am informed that all these matters in regard to detention of vessels and cargoes are decided by a committee comprised of representatives of the Admiralty, Foreign Office, War Office and Board of Trade, and on account of the enormous mass of cases upon which their decision is necessary, they are unable to act with the dispatch which is necessary for the proper conduct of official business. I therefore feel it is only by repeated representations, informally and under instructions from the Department, that the importance of this matter to the Government of the United States may be brought to the attention of the British Government.

In my conference with Sir Edward Grey he informed me that he would immediately inquire into the matters contained in my memorandum and would do all in his power to comply with the request set forth therein.

I have [etc.]

Walter Hines Page
[Enclosure]

The American Ambassador (Page) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Grey)

Memorandum

Referring to the several conversations which Mr. Page has had the honor of having with Sir Edward Grey, relative to the detention of American ships and cargoes by the authorities of His Majesty’s Government, and particularly to the assurances which Sir Edward Grey was so good as to give to the effect that notice of the detention of ships and cargoes, and the reason for such detention, would be communicated to the American Embassy with the least possible delay, it is desired to call attention to several matters which have occurred in this connection.

Mr. Page is exceedingly grateful to Sir Edward Grey for his courtesy in advising him as to the detention of ships and cargoes, but feels he must state that on several occasions he has received information from private persons regarding cargoes on certain vessels which have been detained by His Majesty’s authorities, or from the shippers or owners of such cargoes, of which no notice had been received by the Embassy from the Foreign Office.

The most recent case of this description is that of the S. S. America, which has on board certain consignments of alundum belonging to the Norton Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, in regard to the seizure and detention of [Page 391] which no information has been received up to the present time. It is also understood that three ships, namely the Livonia , Marie , and Dicido, carrying cotton from the United States, have been detained, but as yet the Embassy has received no information from His Majesty’s authorities.

It is hoped that it will be found possible to cause information concerning the detention of any American vessel or cargo to be supplied to the Embassy at the earliest possible moment, in order that the shippers may be in a position to clear up any misunderstanding which may exist in the minds of His Majesty’s Government.

It is also urgently requested that the Embassy may be informed as to the release of any vessels or cargoes which have been detained, for there is no absolutely sure and prompt means of obtaining such information except through official channels, as vessels are sometimes discharged at ports at which there is no American consul, and the masters of the vessels seldom inform the Embassy or consulate general that they have been permitted to proceed to their destination.

The Embassy is constantly asked by the Government in Washington, and by the owners and shippers, as to the position and status of vessels and cargoes, and it is impossible to make correct replies unless they are based on notification through His Majesty’s Foreign Office.

The attention of Sir Edward Grey is further invited to a matter which has caused the Embassy certain embarrassment. On March 2 the Foreign Office notified the Embassy that the American S. S. A. A. Raven had been detained in the Downs, and that she would not be allowed to proceed until the conditional contraband on board had been reconsigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust, and on March 31 a note was received by the Embassy in which it was stated that the cargo on this vessel had been placed in the prize court, except the goods consigned to four persons in Holland, on the ground that it was contraband and believed to be destined for Germany. On the 1st or 2d of April the Embassy was unofficially informed that orders had been given for the A. A. Raven to proceed to her destination, and that she had cleared from the Downs. Up to the present moment no information has been received from His Majesty’s Foreign Office in regard to the release of this vessel, and from the last official communication on the subject it would appear that her cargo is still in the prize court.

Mr. Page desires to impress upon Sir Edward Grey that the foregoing facts are presented to him for his consideration in the most informal manner, in order that an understanding may be established for the purpose of facilitating the work both of His Majesty’s Foreign Office and of the Embassy.

The question of the detention of American ships and cargoes is one of the utmost importance at the present moment to the Government of the United States, and, in view of this fact, the Embassy is endeavoring to the best of its ability to answer all inquiries which are addressed to it, and to report immediately upon all matters which come before it, in order that the Department of State may have at hand all available information in this respect.

While again expressing to Sir Edward Grey his great appreciation of his interest and attention to this matter, Mr. Page ventures to hope that the request which has been set forth in this memorandum may receive the earnest and favorable consideration of His Majesty’s authorities.