File No. 165.102/969
The Counselor for the Department of State (Polk) to the Commercial Adviser of the British Embassy (Crawford)
My Dear Sir Richard: With reference to my conversation with you and Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice in the latter part of June last, which resulted in the understanding that a memorandum would be submitted to you setting forth the Department’s reply to the points raised in your note of May 13, 1916,1 regarding the uninterrupted shipment to the United States of two cargoes of German dyestuffs, I have to say that upon later examining the file in this case it was found that my note to you of May 24, 1916,2 had apparently already met the purposes which we had in view.
However, in order that the situation may be made entirely clear to you, in addition to referring to my note of May 24, I enclose herewith a memorandum which constitutes a complete exposition of all the facts in the case.3
In bringing these facts to your attention permit me to express the hope that the question of the uninterrupted shipment of these dye-stuffs may now be speedily concluded, as there continues to exist in the United States a very urgent demand for relief from the shortage of dyes of the character in question.
Very truly yours,