File No. 300.115/9394
The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2.15 p. m.]
4678. Your 3497, July 6. Foreign Office informs me that in view of fact the 212,750 ampules of salvarsan had arrived in Rotterdam by May 15 last, British Government will raise no objection to their shipment and British Consul General, Rotterdam, is being authorized to issue necessary permit. It is pointed out that as regards the novocaine British Government in January last expressed willingness to give an undertaking regarding its shipment in consideration of representations made to effect that need of this drug in America was at time most urgent and that steps would be taken to insure the sufficient supply of it at the end of six months from American or other sources. Seeing that only about one-quarter of amount authorized in January last has been shipped and no efforts apparently made to ship balance, British Government regret they see no reason now after over six months have passed why the permit for shipment of the novocaine should be extended, and state that the permit has lapsed in the ordinary course and can not now be reinstated.