300.115/13750
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at London (Skinner)
Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 5373, of January 9, 1918, containing extracts of correspondence with the British Procurator General with regard to conditions sought to be imposed by British authorities on the release of needles shipped from Germany to American consignees.
It would appear from the communication addressed to you by the Procurator General, under date of January 1, 1918, that it may not be the purpose of the British authorities to make the release of these goods contingent upon agreements on the part of consignees to undertake to waive their right to invoke diplomatic intervention in support of claims for losses growing out of the detention of the goods.
I am [etc.]