File No. 763.72112/3098
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2.25 p. m.]
5076. Before I could present your 3967 I was privately advised by Foreign Office that instructions covering matter had already been sent to British Embassy at Washington, and to-day following note received by Embassy:
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the United States Ambassador and has the honour to state that careful consideration has been given to the Embassy memorandum No. 65 of September 26 regarding the shipment of tobacco from the United States to Holland and Scandinavia.
His Majesty’s Government are prepared to accept the view that there has been a misunderstanding, and to meet the views expressed in the Embassy’s memorandum referred to they are willing to accept the suggestion put forward in the last paragraph of the memorandum, namely, that shipments made under all bona fide contracts entered into before the 15th July last need not be consigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust or covered by the appropriate guarantees in the case of shipments to Scandinavia subject to the condition that the tobacco shall have been put on rail under through bill of lading for land and sea carriage or shipped under direct steamship bill of lading before the 31st of August.
Viscount Grey trusts that the United States Ambassador will appreciate the spirit in which his observations have been met. He desires to state that a communication to the above effect has already been made to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Washington.