The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin)
3844. Further reference Department’s 3750, August 28, 7 p. m. Cable status unofficial negotiations for uninterrupted shipment of German needles from Rotterdam. You may point out in addition to other representations that needles required are largely of special make and can not be manufactured in this country, that many machines are already idle and that a very serious condition threatens the knit-goods industry of this country. In view this situation you are instructed to make a very earnest effort unofficially to induce British Government to permit shipments mentioned in Department’s number 3676 of May 29 last, or even smaller amounts, to come forward.