File No. 763.72112Sa/83

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

650. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:

No. 1115. At conference at Foreign Office this morning at which Taylor and I attended, the suggested text in your No. 926, Department No. 403, July 25, was generally approved by British Government and the French delegate. It was pointed out that unless you had specific proved knowledge that actual money as distinct from a guarantee or a bond had been required of shipowners, it would be advisable to modify your text as to “sums of money being placed under control of German Government which would be in effect a forced loan.” It was further thought that the following paragraph might, to advantage, be added to your text:

It should be clearly understood in any case that a ship sailing under such an, enemy “safe conduct” will render herself liable to be detained until the conditions which the enemy Government has attached to the issue of such “safe conduct” have been ascertained and scrutinized in order that such action may be taken as the circumstance may be deemed to warrant.

It will be noticed that the foregoing differs slightly from the text proposed in my No. 1097, Embassy No. 580, July 25.1 It is hoped that as soon as the definite text has been decided it will be communicated to the several ministers of the four Associated Governments in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Spain, with instructions to hand the identical notes to the Governments mentioned as soon as all the ministers have received their instructions, and that the ministers be instructed to publish the text as soon as it has been delivered [Page 1093] by them to the various Foreign Offices. I have telegraphed very confidentially a copy of your No. 926 to our Scandinavian and Holland Ministers, as well as this message.

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