File No. 658.119/561
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page )
1008. For Sheldon [from War Trade Board]:
No. 1094. Your 1217, Embassy 1024, August 12, 7 p.m, We note procedure proposed by Contraband Committee relative to imports into Sweden from South America and that Contraband Committee approval will be cabled to British consul at port of shipment, who will certify correctness of manifests. We agree with your suggestion in so far as it implies that the Contraband Committee, which is an inter-Allied organization, should not utilize exclusively British consular service. We hesitate, however, to require a mere duplication of work through issuance of certificate by American consul similar to that to be issued by British consul. Would it be feasible to have a joint certificate issued or perhaps to have a territorial division so that in certain countries British consul will issue certificates and in other countries American consul. Such a procedure might, of course, involve objections on the part of French and Italian Governments. We attribute considerable importance to the local prestige which will accrue from the issuance of the consul’s certificate and we would like your further suggestions, after considering our viewpoint as above expressed.