File No. 763.72112/3135
The Consul General at London (Skinner) to the Secretary of State
No. 2989
London,
October 26, 1916
.
[Received November
6.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the
Department that Mr. R. A. Rothermel, of 18
Poland Street, London, W., who informs me that he is an American
citizen, and represents some 50 American manufacturers, has just
received a letter from the blacklisting department of the
Government, as follows:
I am directed by Viscount Grey of Fallodon to say that he has before him a
letter addressed to you by Messrs. Tuthill Spring Company, of
Chicago, which has been detained by the Postal Censor, but which
is being sent on to you. In this letter the firm of Trompenberg
of Amsterdam is referred to, and I am to say that, from
information in his possession, Lord Grey thinks you would be well advised to have no
dealings with this firm.
Mr. Rothermel has asked me to advise him what to
do under the circumstances, and I have written him as per copy
enclosed.
The Department will not fail to note again that the British statutory
list is merely one element in a chain of measures which involve a
great many firms, ships, and classes of goods.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The American Consul General (Skinner) to Mr. R. A. Rothermel
London,
October 26, 1916
.
Sir: I am in receipt of your letter of
October 21, in which you bring my attention to an intimation
from the blacklisting department that correspondence is
undesirable with a certain concern In Amsterdam. You ask me to
state your legal position in the event that you should continue
to correspond and do business with the Dutch firm named. In view
of the suggestion which has been conveyed to you by the
blacklisting department, I cannot advise you to persist in
corresponding with Messrs. Trompenberg of Amsterdam. You must be
aware that the Government are possessed of very large powers,
and that aliens who reside in this country are subject for the
time being to the same rules as those which apply to British
subjects. If, therefore, you should deliberately pursue a course
known to be objectionable to the blacklisting department, the
ultimate results would certainly be disastrous to yourself, for
even though this course might not bring you to the bar as a
defendant, it would with reasonable certainty result in your
expulsion.
Should you wish to discuss the matter more at length with me, I
should be very glad to see you at any time for that purpose.
Very respectfully yours,
