File No. 763.72112/3046
[Enclosure]
Circular issued by the Foreign Trade
Department of the Foreign Office
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs desires to bring to
the notice of all concerned that with a view to preventing
breaches of the trading with the enemy acts and proclamations,
particularly the Trading with the Enemy (Extension of Powers)
Act, 1915, all goods exported from the countries marked “A”
below on and after October 1 next, to the United Kingdom,
Australia, Newfoundland, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, all
colonies not possessing responsible governments and
protectorates, as well as India, must be accompanied by
certificates of interest. These certificates will be issued by
His Majesty’s consular officers, who will require documentary
evidence that no enemy or person with whom trade is for the time
being prohibited (e. g., persons on the statutory list) has any
interest in the goods.
A—Abyssinia, Argentina, Azores, Bolivia, Brazil,
Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Danish West Indies, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Madeira, Mexico, Morocco, Muscat,
Netherland East and West Indies, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,
Persia, Peru, Philippine Islands, Portuguese East and West
Africa, San Salvador, Spain, Spanish West Africa, Uruguay and
Venezuela.
[Page 454]
In the case of exports from the countries marked “B” below where
certificates of origin have hitherto been required, certificates
of origin and interest will be required for goods exported on
and after October 1 on the same conditions, except that the
additional evidence required for a certificate of interest will
have to be produced to the consular officer to whom application
is made for the issue of the combined certificate.
B—Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and
Switzerland.
(In the case of these five countries goods for which certificates
of origin are not at present required will not have to be
accompanied by the new form of certificate of origin and
interest).
All goods exported on and after October 10 from the five
countries marked “B” above to Canada must be accompanied by a
certificate of origin and interest.
In other cases certificates are not compulsory, but many traders,
and particularly British shipowners and masters, will no doubt
require, for their own protection against possible breaches of
the trading with the enemy acts, to be furnished with
certificates for goods consigned to any destination whatsoever.
His Majesty’s consular officers have accordingly been instructed
to furnish certificates in such circumstances on
application.
The period of validity shown on certificates of interest and
certificates of origin and interest will in no case exceed two
months. It is required that shipment shall have been effected
from the country of origin within the period of validity stated
on the certificate, and it is not necessary that the goods shall
have arrived at their ultimate destination within that period.
The onus of proving that the goods were shipped within the
period required will, if necessary, rest in cases of doubt with
the importer of the goods.
Foreign Trade Department
,
Lancaster House, St. James’s, S. W.
