File No. 811.711/197
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
In view of the provisions of section 3(c) of the United States Trading with the Enemy Act, under which it is prohibited to take or send any writing, etc., out of the United States otherwise than through the mails, the British Government have given instructions that any letters carried by passengers or others on board vessels calling at Halifax, and not covered by the special license provided for in the act, shall be confiscated and returned to the United States Post Office.
In the case of vessels proceeding via Halifax, every effort will be made by the competent British authorities to guard against any breach of this section of the act, and it is assumed that, in the case especially of vessels which may for any reason be exempted from calling at Halifax, any necessary measures for the strict enforcement of the section will have been taken at the United States port of departure.
[Received January 26.]