File No. 763.72112/2552
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
No. 3702
London,
May 3, 1916
.
[Received May
15.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith
for the information of the Department, a copy of a communication
which I received from the Consul General at London, under date of
April 5, in reference to the complaint of various shippers of goods
from the United States to Holland relative to the seizure of such
consignments by the British authorities, irrespective of the fact
that the goods were shipped under permits issued by the Netherlands
Oversea Trust.1 I
also transmit herein a copy of the aide
mémoire which I presented to Sir Edward Grey on April 12, together with a copy of
his reply thereto under date of May 2, in reference to this
matter.
I have [etc.]
[Page 391]
[Enclosure 1]
The American Ambassador (Page) to the British
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Grey)
Aide Mémoire
The American Embassy has been informed that great anxiety has
been caused amongst various American shippers of goods to
Holland by the fact that large seizures have been reported
within the last three months of various classes of goods shipped
under Netherlands Oversea Trust permits, after the shippers had
complied with every requirement of His Majesty’s Government
known to the commercial community.
Many protests have been made by well-known and reputable
forwarders of American staple commodities, and the burden of the
complaint in each case is that they forwarded goods without
hesitancy, relying upon the statement of His Majesty’s
Government that while His Majesty’s authorities did not require
American shippers to forward their goods in care of the
Netherlands Oversea Trust, they would regard consignment to the
Trust as proof of a bona fide Dutch
destination.
The matter has now become one of great seriousness as it affects
not merely the particular consignments under consideration, but
has destroyed confidence in the efficacy of the arrangements
which have been made for the shipment of goods from the United
States to the Netherlands.
It is hoped that some solution may be found in the
misunderstanding which would appear now to prevail amongst
American exporters, and that such shippers who have taken the
precaution to comply with the regulations of His Majesty’s
authorities and obtain a permit from the Netherlands Oversea
Trust, may be permitted to ship their goods to Holland without
interference.
London
,
April 12, 1916
.
[Enclosure 2]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Grey) to
the American Ambassador (Page)
No. 70508/X
London,
May 2, 1916
.
Your Excellency: Careful consideration
has been given to the aide mémoire which
your excellency was so good as to communicate to me on the 12th
April regarding the detention of various classes of goods
shipped from the United States to Holland under consignment to
the Netherlands Oversea Trust.
I have the honour to state in reply that as a general rule His
Majesty’s Government do regard consignment to the Trust as an
adequate guarantee of the ultimate disposal of imports into
Holland so consigned. Such consignment cannot, however, preclude
and does not, under the specific provisions of the agreement
with the Trust, preclude His Majesty’s Government from
requesting the Trust to withhold delivery of goods in special
cases pending enquiry, and even in certain circumstances to
return cargoes to this country for prize court proceedings.
I need hardly assure your excellency that His Majesty’s
Government, while compelled to take the utmost precautions to
prevent the passage of goods to the enemy and any possible
evasion of existing arrangements, are sincerely desirous to
reduce delays and interference to a minimum, and would consider
sympathetically any concrete cases of detention or seizure which
your excellency may consider as falling outside the exceptional
circumstances referred to.
I have [etc.]
For the Secretary of State:
W. Langley
