File No. 841.711/398
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
3311. Your 4162, April 15, and 4270, May 9.2 Please bring to attention of British Foreign Office.
Post Office Department states that dispatching and labeling of bags containing bills of lading and consular invoices, as suggested, is matter that would have to be arranged with countries in which the mail originates, but that it would have no objection to the making up of such bags to be addressed to New York post office by countries concerned and will issue necessary instructions regarding matter upon receipt of advice that the arrangement is to be put in effect.
Concerning British Government’s suggestion that delivery of mail exchanged between the United States and neutral countries of northern Europe would be facilitated if such mail were routed via England, the Post Office Department believes it more practicable to continue present practice of dispatching mails for the Central powers and for the several neutral countries, including Norway, [Page 604] Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands, by steamers sailing from New York direct to neutral ports, expecting that the Allies will discontinue the illegal and indefensible practice of interfering with first-class mail in transit between neutral countries.
- No. 4270 not printed.↩