File No. 165.102/986
The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Owing to the numerous inquiries from time to time made of the German Embassy on behalf of the American consumers of dyestuffs as to the prospects of procuring the export from Germany into this country of the 15,000 tons of dyestuffs, or a [Page 560] substantial part of such 15,000 tons, referred to in my note of April 20, 1916,1 and being advised that such inquiries are also being addressed to the State Department, I write to inform you, for the purpose of replying, if desired, to any such inquiries, that my Government is prepared at this time, as it was at the time of my note, to assent to such export from Germany under the conditions stated in the note. According to wireless advices just received a month’s supply to the amount of 2,000 tons are ready for immediate shipment—as a part of the 15,000 tons—and arrangements have been made for such exportation, subject only to the necessary assurances to be given before shipment that transportation of the goods will be free from interference on the part of the countries at war with Germany. This assurance, which as yet has not been given, prevents a prompt shipment. Such assurance is manifestly essential in view of the fact that dyestuff shipped from Germany to Dutch India under a British permit have been forcibly detained at Gibraltar.
Sincerely trusting that the necessary assurance will shortly be given through the State Department, and desiring to aid by all proper means in meeting the necessities of the American manufacturers, I remain [etc.]
Yours very sincerely,