File No. 763.72112/1491
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a full report of the proceedings in what are known as the packing-houses cases, involving upwards of $12,000,000 worth of meat products.1 Judgment will not be given for some time. Unfortunately I am only able to send one copy of the proceedings in question, which have attracted more attention than any others thus far brought before the prize court.
The Crown is asking for condemnation of the goods, not on the ground that it was unlawful to send meat products to Scandinavian countries, or, for that matter, to Germany, for the civilian population, and has set up a very vaguely supported claim that there was an enemy military or government destination. It is generally agreed, however, that the Crown’s proof of an intended military destination was exceedingly weak.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩