Paris Peace Conf. 763.72/12: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Osborne) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received January 11—12:30 p.m.]
89. Following message sent to the Department:
“3443, January 10, 7 p.m. [According] to communication from British Legation to Inter-Allied Committee, former telegraphed [Page 60] British Foreign Office ‘Inquiring whether the restrictions hitherto placed on reliable importers of British coal using their cranes for discharging German coal should be relaxed as importers argued that if Danish shipowners are allowed to use British bunkers to fetch German coal importers of British coal should receive equal concessions’. On basis of this British delegate in I. A. C. was asked whether British bunkers had been in the past and were still being given to Danish ships sailing between Denmark and Germany. He replied in the affirmative. When it was pointed out that British bunkers were thereby being employed to break the Baltic blockade he promised to secure further information. The next day he contradicted his previous admission and stated that the above-mentioned telegram to the British Foreign Office concerned only a future arrangement in case the proposed relaxations of the blockade went into effect. Reliable private information received by Legation gives rise to the fear that it is his original admission which accords with the facts. In any case shipping between this country and Germany is continuing and the Danish Government is in position at any time to declare blockade illegal since it is ineffective.
To remedy this, large blockading squadron would be quite unnecessary; the bona fide seizure of few ships breaking the blockade would probably suffice to prevent further sailings. Whether the Baltic blockade is necessary to make Germany accept the Associated Governments’ peace terms seems doubtful to the Legation, as all reports indicate that Germany will be compelled to accept any peace terms offered her. But if blockade is to be continued it is evident that it is certainly potentially and probably actually detrimental to American interests that it should be conducted in a manner which will make unofficial relaxations possible”.
Repeated to American Mission, Paris.