File No. 165.102/926
The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 21.]
Mr. Secretary of State: On the strength of conversations at the State Department, and in order to relieve the pressing need of dyestuffs [Page 554] felt by American industries and about which representations have been made to the State Department by manufacturing interests, I put to my Government the question of exporting 15,000 tons of dyestuffs from Germany.
As is known to your excellency, the so-called blockade maintained by Germany’s adversaries has had the result that commercial intercourse between the United States and Germany is entirely cut off, that non-contraband and conditional contraband intended for non-combatants can no longer be shipped, and that merchandise of German origin, even when shipped from neutral ports and owned by American citizens, has been forcibly taken from neutral vessels. The German Government was constrained thereby to take the position that the export of German goods could only be allowed in exchange for American goods.
Upon a careful study of the situation, however, the German Government was sorry to find that a serious dearth had been brought by the blockade upon the dye-using industries of the United States. While adhering to the principle of the position it has taken in regard to the unlawfulness of the blockade, the German Government declares itself ready to make one single exception, most strictly confined to the shipment of the above-mentioned 15,000 tons of dyestuffs, export of which was applied for by American interests nearly a year ago.
Of course these shipments must take place under guarantees which will fairly insure the safe delivery of the dyestuffs in the United States for the use of American industries and with appropriate precautions against their being reexported to countries at war with Germany.
On those conditions the Imperial Government is even ready, if need be, to induce the German chemical factories, so far as it may be compatible with the circumstances, to drop other work and make such dyestuffs as are particularly and urgently wanted on the American market. Attention perhaps should be paid in this respect to avoiding needless competition with American dyestuff makers.
I am authorized and instructed to arrange with the Government of the United States the details of this export of 15,000 tons of dyestuffs.
Accept [etc.]