File No. 763.72112/2540
The Consul at Stavanger (Dunlap) to the Secretary of State
No. 23
Stavanger,
April 15, 1916
.
[Received May
12.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a
confidential report on the Stavanger Packers’ Import Union, in
triplicate, a list of packers, members
[Page 589]
and not members of the union, and a letter to
Abbott, Hall & Co., 12 South Market Street, Boston, Mass.,
regarding the subject.1 The triplicate copies of the report and list
are to accompany the letter if the Department considers it advisable
to give out this information.
While I have marked the information “Confidential” because of its
relation to a political question, there is still nothing contained
in it that is not generally known here. The list was freely given me
by the union even though I stated my intention to send it to an
inquirer in America.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Report on the Stavanger Packers’Import
Union
The Stavanger Packers’ Import Union is an organization of canning
factories which desire to obtain their foreign supplies without
interference from the British authorities, and which have,
therefore, given guarantees that these supplies will not in any
form reach the powers at war with Great Britain. The Norwegian
name of the union is the Stavanger Hermetikfabrikanters
Import-forening. Of the 53 packers in town, 35 are members, and
these compose the so-called “white list.” Other packers here are
on the “black list.” The union has been discussed for some time
but final arrangements were only made a few weeks ago.
The packers in the union have each given a bond of $6,700 to bind
their agreement. In case any of their goods are found en route to Germany, a heavy fine will be
imposed and the factories have even agreed that the fine may be
in excess of the guarantee. A committee of the packers has the
executive power and stands responsible to the British
authorities for the keeping of the agreement.
The British authorities in turn promise not to hinder the
delivery of goods necessary to the canning trade, such as tomato
paste, tin, and oil, to the “white” factories. Patrol ships
regularly stop most of the merchant vessels coming to Norway as
they pass the British Isles, and so can exercise this
supervision; also, regular Norwegian lines dependent on England
for coal are in no position to object to English
restrictions.
The point of the matter with relation to the United States is
that goods addressed to factories on the “white list” will
probably reach the buyers without delay; those addressed to
“black list” buyers may never get there.
The union does not include any members outside the town of
Stavanger, but about two-thirds of all the fish factories in
Norway are located here.
