The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin)
3654. Your 4661, August 5, 3 p. m., fails to give any satisfactory reason for British change in attitude. As tobacco growers have made large plantings in reliance on British assurances that shipments might be made without interference to neutral European ports without regard to ultimate destination and contracts with neutral consignees have been entered into on that basis, Department must insist that pending further discussion British attitude, assurance of non-interference be given with reference to all contracts entered into bona fide before notice change attitude on part Great Britain and that these shipments may go forward without consignment Netherlands Oversea Trust.