File No. 300.115/13719
The Commercial Adviser of the British Embassy ( Crawford) to the Counselor for the Department of State ( Polk)
[Received October 30.]
My Dear Mr. Counsellor: With your letter of the 26th September last you were good enough to forward to me a statement giving the names of American importers who had shown to your satisfaction that they had, prior to April 7, 1917, actually paid for certain specified goods of enemy origin lying at that time in Rotterdam. No time was lost in transmitting this statement to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who, in a telegram just received, directs us to acquaint you that His Majesty’s Government are happy to give immediate effect to the desire of the United States Government as expressed in your letter. They will accordingly allow to come forward, without interruption on their part, all the merchandise for which such favourable treatment was bespoken in your statement above referred to. They note further that you have reserved seven cases for presentation later as soon as full proof of payment is in your hands. …
I may add finally that none of the permits will authorise transshipment at British ports, but will only be available for direct shipments from Rotterdam to the United States.
Believe me [etc.]