File No. 763.72112/332
The Conference of Tobacco Growers of the United States to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: A large delegation of citizens representing the tobacco growers of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland, and other tobacco-growing states, have assembled in Washington for the purpose of entering a protest against the action of the British Government in withdrawing from the agreement made November 15, 1915, whereby tobacco produced in the United States and exported to neutral countries was no longer required to be consigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust, but was permitted to enter all neutral ports free from restrictions.
You are, of course, familiar with the steps which have been taken by this Government since March 1915, when the original orders in council were issued upon this subject, to secure a free and open market for this manifestly non-contraband product of the American farm; and we desire to express our appreciation of your distinguished services in securing a modification of those orders in November 1915, which permitted the shipment of tobacco into the Central countries; but, in view of the situation that existed among the growers, before and after this modification, we are convinced, and desire most earnestly to impress our Government, that a repetition of those conditions will mean disaster to a great portion of the tobacco growers of those states which produce this product.
The recent action of Great Britain will restore the conditions existing prior to November 15, 1915, and the grower will again find himself at the mercy of the speculator and compelled to accept prices for the product of his labor which will not pay for the actual cost of production. The result will be far-reaching and disastrous. The dark type of tobacco produced in large quantities in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland is practically all exported, and we call your attention to the fact that tobacco of different types is produced in more than 20 states of the Union. Many thousands of citizens are entirely dependent upon this product for the support of themselves and families, and they and those with whom they do business will be most seriously affected by this unexpected and unreasonable action on the part of the British Government.
After the embargo was released in November 1915, and before the time arrived for the planting of the crop of 1916, it was caused to be generally understood among the farmers and others that the order of November 23, 1915, permitting shipments of tobacco to Germany and Austria would be continued in force. Consequently an unusually large acreage of tobacco was planted and is now in the field. To [Page 515] permit the present order, recently issued, denying shipment of tobacco to the Central empires, and thus cutting off a very large natural market for this American product, will be so disastrous to the growers of tobacco in this nation that we feel justified in urging the most persistent effort possible on the part of our Government to afford relief from this unjust restriction.
Tobacco is not a contraband of war. Whether a soldier had or did not have it would not affect his military efficiency. Tobacco cannot be used in any manner as munitions, food, or other equipment in connection with military operations. For this reason, the American people, and especially those who are directly and indirectly affected by the growing and marketing of tobacco, are unable to understand how there can be any justification for this treatment of their neutral products. If this situation is permitted to continue, it will bring about a repetition of the distressing conditions which prevailed during the season of 1915 when the farmers were compelled to sell their products at prices in many instances below the cost of production. They do not want a repetition of those conditions. They ought not to have to submit to such a repetition.
May we say that it is difficult to understand why Great Britain should insist upon imposing these restrictions, thus hampering the movement of this important product of American labor, which is admittedly a non-contraband. Why, it may be asked, should any nation seek to impose restrictions, or attempt to interfere with the shipment of this non-contraband American product to any neutral port? May we venture the suggestion that to do so is a plain violation of our neutral rights, and would appear under all the facts and circumstances to be the part of a deliberate purpose to depress the price of tobacco in the hands of the grower.
Attention is called to the further fact that while our Government has consistently maintained its strict neutrality, the Allies, and Great Britain in particular, have profited greatly by the opportunity offered to secure supplies of all kinds from this country, and in the immense volume of credit extended. No effort has been made to place any restrictions on this trade. In view of these facts, we believe that Great Britain should at least stand in a reciprocal attitude, and that her attitude in practically forestalling the shipment of an American product which is so clearly non-contraband as tobacco is neither warranted nor justified from any standpoint. It cannot be expected that hundreds of thousands of citizens, whose families are dependent for the actual necessities and comforts of life upon securing a fair price for the product of their labor, will willingly and quietly acquiesce in this interference with the shipment of their non-contraband product to a neutral market, coming as it does at the very time when it is to be harvested and placed on the market.
Realizing, as we are sure you do, the seriousness of the situation and the importance of immediate action, we beg to ask that you use your best efforts to secure from Great Britain an adherence to her agreement of November 15, 1915. Failing in this, we respectfully ask that such steps be taken as will impose proper penalties on the trade and credit relations with such foreign countries as unwarrantably seek [Page 516] to interfere with the shipment to neutral countries of our non-contraband products.
Permit us to say further that public sentiment is becoming greatly aroused in those states which are interested in the growing of tobacco, and if present laws are inadequate to exact that degree of reciprocity which is our due, then we are sure that our Senators and Representatives may be relied upon to enact such legislation as will bring about the desired result.
Respectfully,
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