File No. 763.72112/2514
The Secretary of State to the Edward Maurer Company, Inc.
Gentlemen: The Department has received your letter of May 3, 1916, with reference to the refusal of the steamship lines to accept various goods offered to them for shipment to South America.
[Page 392]The Department has no control over the steamship companies and, therefore, would not appear to be in a position to take any action in connection with their refusal to accept any cargo that may be offered for shipment.
The question of bringing judicial proceedings against the steam-ship companies would seem to be a private matter in regard to which it would seem that you might deem it advisable to consult private legal counsel.
I am [etc.]