File No. 763.72112/1241
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6.55 p. m.]
2258. I have again taken up in extenso with Lord Crewe, temporarily in charge of the Foreign Office, our troubles about stopped cotton cargoes. After making urgent requests for early answers in a number of specific cases which are of an imperative nature, I expressed the hope on my own account that the British answer to our note on the blockade would not be longer delayed. He confessed confidentially that it was ready and he implied that it was held till our correspondence with Germany should be out of the way. I suggested that if the contents of the reply were satisfactory to us this was a peculiarly good time to send it, especially if the British Government should see its way to settle these cotton controversies promptly by acceding to our requests. I reminded him that it is a very good time now to clean up our whole docket.
He expressed agreement with me. Such an attitude of the First Secretary is one thing. Action by the Admiralty and by committees [Page 439] on shipping is sometimes another thing. I am informally making renewed urgent representations also to the new members of the Admiralty and of the cabinet committees.