Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1915, Supplement, The World War

File No. 611.419/148

The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State

No. 22]

Washington, January 15, 1915.
[Received January 16.]

Sir: With reference to previous communications with your Department on the subject of the embargo on export of wool from the United Kingdom, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a telegram which I have received from my Government.

I have [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice

[Enclosure-Telegram]

The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Grey) to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice)

Licences to export merino wool from United Kingdom to United States will in future be issued fairly frequently provided sufficient steps taken by shippers to assure themselves that consignees will not export it to any destination outside United States. Intending shippers will be required to make statutory declaration that consignee is known to them and that they have obtained adequate assurance that none of merino for which licence is sought will be exported from the United States to any destination. Subject to such declaration and if no reason to doubt bona fides of declarant, we do not for the present propose to restrict amount to be shipped. Governments of Australia and South Africa informed accordingly.