File No. 841.711/372
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2 p. m.]
4162. Your 3189, 13th, 4 p. m.1 Foreign Office informs me that as result of inquiries made of proper department of British Government it has ascertained that if United States postal administration will consent to dispatch in special bags which would be marked “Shipping Documents” bills of lading, invoices, etc., referring to cargo in the ship by which documents in question are dispatched, arrangements will be made for the rapid examination of the contents of these bags by one or two officers of the censorship at Rams-gate, Falmouth, and Kirkwall. It is further stated that as soon as Foreign Office are informed that this proposal would meet the views of the United States Government, the necessary steps will be taken to put this arrangement into force. A memorandum showing the organization of the branch of the censorship which dealt with these mails is enclosed in note from Foreign Office and it is pointed out that the delay of legitimate correspondence would be considerably reduced if the mails between America and the neutral countries of northern Europe—especially those now carried by ships which take the northern route—were dispatched by the postal administrations concerned through England. Copy of note and memorandum follows in next pouch.
- Not printed.↩