File No. 300.115/9879
The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14, 4.35 p. m.]
4888. Your 3764, August 31. Foreign Office to-day replies as follows:
I have carefully considered the memorandum which you communicated to this Department on the 2d instant, relative to the shipment to the United States of America of 10,000 bags of German sugar-beet seed. In the note which I had the honor to address to Mr. Page on February 10 last, it was Stated that permits would be issued for the following quantities of seed: 2,200 bags for E. Starke; 1,200 bags for A. Bencoe; 1,800 bags for J. Savageau; 3,000 bags for DeRekowski; 3,200 bags for Winterhalter; and it was understood from an unofficial communication made by the Embassy to this Department on February 3 that the intention was to ship the above quantities on the following day. A telegram was accordingly sent to His Majesty’s Consul General at Rotterdam authorizing the issue of the necessary permits. As a matter of fact 2,750 bags of seed for Winterhalter were all that were shipped, leaving a balance of 8,650 bags unshipped.
The permit authorised on February 4 has now of course lapsed, and so far as His Majesty’s Government are aware none of the above seed was intended for the Michigan Sugar Company of Detroit.
His Majesty’s Government do not therefore understand the Embassy’s reference to the assurance given in connection with the Foreign Office letter of February 10 on the strength of which the Michigan Sugar Company have paid for the seed now awaiting shipment.
If it is desired to put in a fresh application, the matter would be considered on the necessary details being furnished as to the precise quantity, weight, value, the names of venders, etc., but it will be necessary for His Majesty’s Government to consult the French Government in the matter before coming to a decision.